De Blasio announces new criteria for
New Yorkers to get COVID-19 vaccine
BY ALEJANDRA
O’CONNELL-DOMENECH
New Yorkers that live
and work in shelters, as
well as storefront facing
grocery store workers, can get the
COVID-19 vaccine, Mayor Bill de
Blasio announced on Jan. 12, as
more members of the state vaccination
group 1B become eligible
for the shot.
The expansion comes a day
after the state gave the green
light for a number of new groups
to register for the vaccine including
teachers, fi rst responders,
fi refi ghters, public transit workers,
in-person college instructors,
child care workers, and New
Yorkers 65 and older.
But the mayor wants to go
further and is urging the state to
allow for delivery workers to be
inoculated against the virus.
“All delivery workers of all
Shoppers jam a grocery store on Utica Avenue and Church Avenue, shoppers taking their turns
to enter because of social distancing rules. This part of East Flatbush was hit hard by Covid-19,
with 222 deaths in this zip code area alone.
kinds should get vaccinated.
They are coming in contact with
so many people, they’re serving
us, we depend on them, they
PHOTO BY TODD MAISEL
deserve to be vaccinated,” said
de Blasio. “We want the freedom
to vaccinate folks in bodegas and
deli’s.”
De Blasio is asking the state
to help the city clarify the rules
of vaccination distribution for
members of group 1B in order
to reach delivery workers, deli
workers, and bodega workers.
And while the mayor asked
for clarifi cation on vaccination
distribution, Governor Andrew
Cuomo announced New Yorkers
65 and older are now eligible to
receive the vaccine to refl ect
updated guidance from the
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
The announcement comes as
the city works to speed up its
sluggish vaccine rollout plan by
increasing the number of vaccination
sites across the fi ve boroughs.
On Tuesday, the mayor revealed
a new 24/7 vaccination hub will
open on Friday at Citi Field in
Queens.
12 January 14, 2021 Schneps Media