Vaccine age limit to hit 30
State broadens eligibility Tuesday with universal policy due next week
New York residents age 30 and above will become eligible for a coronavirus vaccine starting Tuesday at 8 a.m., Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Monday.
A week later, on April 6, eligibility will expand to all New York residents who want a vaccine and are at least 16 years old — three and a half weeks sooner than the May 1 deadline the White House set for universal vaccine eligibility, Cuomo said.
“Today we take a monumental step forward in the fight to beat COVID … We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but until we get there it is more important than ever for each and every New Yorker to wear a mask, socially distance and follow all safety guidelines,” he said.
Prior to Monday, New York was one of few states that had yet to announce a universal eligibility date. Eligible populations had included those age 50 and up, people with underlying health conditions, and certain essential workers.
The expanded eligibility comes as county leaders were calling on the governor to open eligibility up to younger populations to help curb a recent rise in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.
In the Capital Region, average daily cases of the virus have risen 30 percent from 188 on March 15 to 244 as of Sunday, a Times Union analysis of county data shows. Hospitalizations are up 9 percent over that same period. Meanwhile, almost every region of the state, including the Capital Region, has seen its share of residents testing positive for the virus increase since mid-march.
About two hours before the governor’s announcement Monday, Albany County Executive Dan Mccoy called on the governor to expand eligibility for the vaccine, arguing that people in the 18-30 age group were growing too relaxed about precautions such as face masks in public and social distancing.
“They’re not getting sick but they’re
infecting their parents, their grandparents and so on,” he said.
Albany County Health Commissioner Dr. Elizabeth Whalen said that while more-transmissible variants are also a likely factor in the recent rise in cases, young people continue to make up a large portion of those getting infected.
“Now, we know that they have a lower rate of hospitalizations and deaths,” she said. “But they are very capable of spreading COVID to relatives that may be at risk. This is the age group that we have focused our mitigation efforts toward and as availability for vaccine opens up it is essential that this population be vaccinated to stem the spread.”
Family gatherings for spring holidays, along with the rise in travel associated with spring break, also have local officials on high alert. On Monday, Warren County Health Services Director Ginelle Jones urged residents to celebrate Easter and Passover holidays with members of their own household — unless those who are expected to gather are all fully vaccinated, which doesn’t occur until two weeks after the person’s last dose.
As of Monday, nearly 20 percent of the Capital Region’s population had been fully vaccinated and nearly 35 percent had received at least one dose of vaccine. Statewide, nearly 17 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated and nearly 30 percent have had at least one dose.
Cuomo warned Monday that the state’s distribution network and large eligibility population still far exceeds the vaccine supply coming from the federal government. People should not to just show up to vaccination sites but make an appointment, he said.
Still, county officials are likely to be relieved about the increased demand outweighing supply. Vaccine providers face hefty fines if they don’t get shots into arms within seven days of receiving a shipment, and slots have gotten harder to fill of late, Mccoy said Monday.
“We’re getting more vaccine than we ever did before,” he said. “But the problem is it’s getting harder and harder to fill. We’re all competing for that (50-and-up)age group.”
As of Monday, nearly 20 percent of the Capital Region’s population had been fully vaccinated and nearly 35 percent had received at least one dose of vaccine. Statewide, nearly 17 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated and nearly 30 percent have had at least one dose.