10% Of New Yorkers Have Gotten First Dose Of Vaccine: Cuomo

LONG ISLAND, NY — A total of 10 percent of New Yorkers have now received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccination, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday.

"That is a big deal," Cuomo said.

The governor also announced that New York's seven-day average Covid-19 positivity rate had dropped to 4.38 percent, the lowest since Dec. 1.

A total of 138 people died over the past 24 hours statewide, he said.

Long Island, at 5.36 percent, and the mid-Hudson Valley, at 5.34 percent, still top the state in highest coronavirus positivity rates, Cuomo said.

A total of 2.5 million vaccination have been administered, with about 10 percent of all New Yorkers having received their first dose and 92 percent of allocated first doses in arms, Cuomo said.

There are still 10 million New Yorkers waiting for vaccinations and 300,000 dosages arriving in New York per week, he said.

"The big question is supply, and when it will increase," Cuomo said, adding that the issue was discussed on a call with governors and the White House.

Supply can really only ramp up significantly if the Johnson & Johnson vaccination is approved; that vaccination requires only one dosage and does not need such cold temps for refrigeration, he said.

So far, Cuomo said, the White House has announced a 5 percent increase in allocation over the next three weeks, in addition to the first 16 percent announced, and the new increase of 5 percent announced this week.

In other news, the federal government announced a direct allocation to federally qualified health centers; the federal government also unveiled a program providing direct allocation to pharmacies last week.

Altogether, there are four levels of vaccine distribution, Cuomo said: the state allocation; the federal government's direct allocation to pharmacies; the newly rolled-out federal allocation that will go directly to federally qualified health centers; and a pre-existing federal program that provides vaccines directly to nursing homes.

The federal government remains "adamantly opposed" to using second doses for first dosages, Cuomo said.

There has also been discussion about reallocation of unused vaccines; there is an unused allocation in the federal nursing home program that was perhaps over-allocated, Cuomo said. Those unused dosages will be reallocated from that program into the general state allocation, Cuomo said.

There will also be additional dosages available if a person does not show up for their second shot, he said. Those who received the Pfizer vaccination have 21 days before they have to return for their second dosage; those who received Moderna must wait 28 days, he said. If people do not return for the second dose, the state must keep it available for 42 days; after 42 days it can be given to someone else, Cuomo said.

The reallocation of second dosages could be consequential, totaling "tens of thousands of dosages," he said.

Rapid testing sites under development

With rapid tests already in existence commercially, testing sites will be created so that New York can continue to reopen for events, Cuomo said.

Sites could exist at pharmacies and at transportation hubs such as Penn Station and Grand Central Station, for example, he said. A new app is under development where testing data can be kept so those who wish to attend a performance at a theater or arena can just show proof of a negative test, he said.

With wedding receptions now opened to up to 150 guests who have tested negative, movie theaters, arenas, baseball games, and other venues could be next, he said.

Standard guidance is being developed and expected next week that will outline how venues can open safely, Cuomo said.

"Our post-holiday surge reduction is continuing, and that is the direct result of the toughness of New Yorkers who have sacrificed and done what is needed to beat back this invisible enemy," Cuomo said. "Now more than ever, it's critically important we stay united and keep the momentum on our side — especially as new variants of the virus threaten to upend the progress we have made."