Vax going straight to campuses

ALBANY — New York will send COVID vaccines straight to colleges and universities across the state in an effort to get students immunized before the end of the spring semester.

Gov. Cuomo announced Monday, during a press-free visit to Suffolk Community College, that SUNY schools will take the lead in the new initiative aimed at vaccinating college students on-campus.

“We will be giving direct allocations to schools, colleges, universities, so they can vaccinate their students in their facilities, and let’s stamp this beast to death while we can,” the governor said. “We have COVID on the run. … But we need herd immunity, we need every New Yorker vaccinated, and that includes New York’s young people and students, and we’re going to make it a reality.”

Last week, the state opened up vaccine eligibility to all New Yorkers over 16.

Cuomo (inset) noted that younger New Yorkers are playing a part in fueling recent outbreaks and warned they can also pass the virus along to older, at-risk populations.

The state’s overall coronavirus positivity rate is 3.75%, Cuomo said during a call with reporters later in the day.

In all, 12 million doses have been administered, with one in four New Yorkers fully vaccinated.

Expanding availability on campuses across the state could help combat the spread of COVID as college students head home for the summer.

“The 18-to-24 population is a population that is growing in positivity,” Cuomo said. “We have them in schools; let’s use the schools as the base for the vaccine. Makes all the sense in the world. We have the staff at the school, we have the students at this school. Let’s vaccinate them at the schools.”

Cuomo also announced that the state is issuing guidance for graduation ceremonies that will be in effect starting next month.

Capacity limits will be in place for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies, and attendees will have to show proof of a negative COVID test or vaccination for larger events.

“Large-scale” outdoor graduation ceremonies of more than 500 people will be allowed as long as the venue used is limited to 20% capacity.

Indoor graduation ceremonies of more than 150 people will be permitted at 10% of venue capacity.