COVID-19 vaccinations
Thursday, April 8, 2021
NYC Vaccine for All. COVID-19 vaccines will likely be available for most New Yorkers by late spring 2021. Vaccinations are free. The difficulty in obtaining an appointment to get a vaccination is currently due to the lack of supply of vaccines (only the Federal government can purchase vaccinations from pharmaceutical companies, and the companies have a high demand for this product).
Useful links
The NYC Vaccine Finder site tells you everywhere in NYC that vaccinations are available and the type of vaccination offered vaccinefinder.nyc.gov. You can book an appointment from this site.
Website developed by volunteers checks all vaccine sites for available appointments nycvaccinelist.com.
NYC COVID-19 vaccines page www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccines.page
NYC vaccine command center www1.nyc.gov/site/coronavirus/vaccines/covid-19-vaccines.page
NYC’s Facebook page facebook.com/groups/204675344701435. Also has a form to ask for help getting a vaccination appointment.
Vaccinations for fully homebound New Yorkers.
Eligible people can add their names to the list of those interested in receiving in-home vaccination forms.cityofnewyork.us/f/homebound. The requirements are that you must be fully homebound, a resident of NYC, and eligible for the vaccine. The NYFD is assisting with homebound vaccinations.Other people in the household and caregivers can also receive a vaccination if they are eligible for vaccinations. The one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccination is being used for homebound vaccinations.
Useful telephone numbers
Eligible people can call 877-VAX4NYC (1-877-829-4692) 8am - 9pm
New Yorkers who want the vaccine may make appointments by phone at 1-833-697-4829.
Seniors who need travel assistance to get to their appointments can request help when they are making their appointments.
Eligibility
NYC Vaccine eligibility & distribution www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccine-eligibility.page
NYS "Am I eligible?" app to check eligibility and make an appointment am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov
To make an appointment
Call or schedule an appointment online via websites created by the state, the city or the city’s public health system..
Eligible people can call 877-VAX4NYC to schedule an appointment.
Other phone numbers: 1-833-697-4829 or 1-877-829-4692 or
The NYC Vaccine Finder site tells you everywhere in NYC that vaccinations are available and the type of vaccination offered vaccinefinder.nyc.gov. You can book an appointment from this site.
Another NYC vaccine finder link vax4nyc.nyc.gov/patient/s/?lang=en.
Walgreens walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19 (targeting those 60+ years of age, teachers and child care providers)
CVS cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine (targeting those 60+ years of age, teachers and child care providers)
RiteAid riteaid.com/pharmacy/covid-qualifier (targeting those 60+ years of age, teachers and child care providers)
The Javits Center is a mass vaccination location. If you are interested in scheduling a vaccination at the Javits Center (429 11th Avenue in Manhattan), you can do so by calling 1-833-697-4829 or at apps3.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?OpID=50502320. This site tells you immediately if appointments are available. Wait times are unpredictable. If you need accomodations, let one of the workers there know. They will take you to the head of the line or provide accomodations.
Walk-up vaccinations (no appointment necessary) for persons age 75+
The City is expanding its walk-up appointment pilot for New Yorkers over the age of 75 at City-run sites. If you are 75+, you can go to these vaccine sites and get vaccinated without an appointment. In addition, if you bring a companion who is an eligible New Yorker, they can get vaccinated at the same time. Additional, site-specific information can be found on nyc.gov/vaccinefinder. New Yorkers age 75 and older must show proof of age upon arrival at the vaccination site. In order to be vaccinated, the person accompanying them must be eligible to receive vaccine due to age, employment, or other reason. As noted below, New Yorkers who are 16 and 17 must receive the Pfizer vaccine – please keep in mind that if Pfizer is not available at these vaccine sites, and you bring a companion who is 16 or 17, they will not be able to get vaccinated at the same time. The following is a list of “walk-up” vaccine sites in Manhattan near Murray Hill.
Ford Foundation Community Health Center/Clinic, 321 E 42nd Street, Manhattan, 10017, (Monday – Saturday, 9am – 5pm)
Getting to an appointment
The city offers free transportation to and from vaccine sites for adults who are over age 65 or have an ambulatory, visual, intellectual, or developmental disability. To reserve transportation, including ambulette and cab options, call 877-VAX-4-NYC.
NYC Vaccine for All to Offer Transportation for NYC Seniors www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/035-21/vaccine-all-city-offer-transportation-nyc-seniors. Seniors age 65 or older who are unable to make their own arrangements and need transportation to and from a COVID-19 vaccination appointment can sign up for transportation throughout the City. Older New Yorkers age 65 and over who make an appointment for vaccine at a City-operated site will be asked whether they have a way to get to and from their appointment. If they require transportation, they will be screened and directed to transportation options, including Access-a-Ride, ambulette services, cab service via Curb and in a few weeks, transportation by select Senior Center programs.
NYC vaccination locations
www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccine-locations.page
New York State COVID-19 Vaccine Form
The vaccination location will ask you to complete a form after you make an appointment for a vaccination forms.ny.gov/s3/vaccine. You’ll receive a submission ID by email. Bring the submission ID to your appointment.
Get help
New York City Council Member Keith Powers will help with your vaccination questions and issues. They are also recruiting volunteers. The District Office telephone number is 212-818-0580. You can fill out a form with your question or issue at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScnQlciItigagrC9wKzA9ykd0ykcu4F90Oyj6FKEhPnUUb4LQ/viewform.
State Senator Brad Hoylman's COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Help Center provides help for people in his district. Fill out this form docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfno8CzNdx-rWDU_6osfnw-pZ0b556UZ1WVj4-xmyh_u_oPcA/viewform. You can also telephone 212-633-8052 or email hoylman@nysenate.gov.
Councilwoman Carlina Rivera's office (Council District 2) can help you schedule an appointment for a vaccination. Call 212-677-1077 for help. Email District2@council.nyc.gov.
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer's office can help with making an appointment for a vaccination for eligible Manhattanites (in-home or otherwise), contact Junior Martinez in the MBP's office at 212-531-1609 or email juniormartinez@manhattanbp.nyc.gov.
Official app to show your vaccination and test results
Excelsior Pass - be a part of New York's safe reopening
Excelsior Pass is a free and voluntary platform for businesses and individuals that can be used to show secure proof
of a recent negative COVID test or vaccination. There are currently three different types of passes: COVID-19 Vaccination Pass, COVID-19 PCR Test Pass and COVID-19 Antigen Test Pass. To retrieve a Pass, visit the Excelsior Pass website at epass.ny.gov. You will need to provide some basic personal information, including your first and last name, date of birth and zip code. You'll also need to verify your identity with three "challenge questions" whose answers are unique to you. Because we do not save or store your personal information, you will need to enter this information every time you retrieve a new pass. Once you’ve retrieved your Pass, you can print it, save a screenshot, or save it in the Excelsior Pass Wallet mobile app for easy access later. The Excelsior Pass Wallet app is available for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Learn more and download the pass at covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/excelsior-pass. The COVID-19 Vaccination Pass is currently valid for 30 days after the Pass is retrieved. After the pass expires, you can retrieve a new pass from the Excelsior Pass website at epass.ny.gov.
General information
NY State vaccine information covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov
NY State vaccine distribution plan with eligibility phases covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/phased-distribution-vaccine
NY State FAQ covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/frequently-asked-questions.
CDC COVID-19 vaccines page cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/index.html
The speed of the distribution of the vaccine also depends on how much of the vaccine can be obtained. People in Phase 1A will still have priority. To assist with Phase 1b vaccine administration, the expanded network will include doctor networks, Federally Qualified Health Centers, county health departments, ambulatory centers and pharmacies. Starting next week, 500 pharmacies will come online to assist in the vaccine distribution. All of these new providers will begin accepting vaccination reservations on Monday. If supplies of the vaccine are insufficient, the date of your appointment to be vaccinated may be weeks or months in the future. Gov. Cuomo has called on agencies and organizations that have medical staff to organize vaccination programs for their own employees.
The vaccine supply chain
The Federal Government is purchasing and distributing the vaccines to the states. The Federal government has also taken responsibility for on-site vaccinations of residents and staff in long-term care facilities, and is partnering with pharmacies: CVS, Walgreens, RiteAid and Managed Health Care Associates, Inc. cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/long-term-care/pharmacy-partnerships.html
States will be responsible for distributing the supplies of the vaccine to local governments. New York State will also assist with administering the vaccines.
Local governments will administer the vaccines, according to CDC and State guidelines and priorties.
Agencies with medical capabilities will also administer vaccinations, such as the Teachers Union in NYC, the VA, the FDNY, NYPD, etc.
Beginning February 11, those eligible for the vaccine will have the opportunity to be vaccinated at select pharmacies across the country. [Source: Rep. Carolyn Maloney's email NY-12 COVID Update 2/3/2021.]
The Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccinations is a collaboration between the federal government, states and territories, and 21 national pharmacy partners and independent pharmacy networks to increase access to COVID-19 vaccination across the United States. This program is one component of the Federal government’s strategy to expand access to vaccines for the American public. The program is being implemented incrementally based on the available vaccine supply, with select retail pharmacy locations providing COVID-19 vaccine to eligible individuals. As vaccine availability increases over time, the program will expand to ultimately include all 40,000+ pharmacies.
Other resources for vaccination information
NYC Council Member Keith Powers' vaccine page council.nyc.gov/keith-powers/vaccine-faqs.
NYC vaccination plan www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/covid/covid-19-vax-plan-executive-summary.pdf
Mayor de Blasio announced on 12/31/20 that New York City will prioritize neighborhoods that have been hardest hit by the pandemic.
NYC vaccinations by zip code www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-data-vaccines.page
New York State Vaccine dashboard provides vaccination information covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/covid-19-vaccine-tracker
Vaccine choices
Fauci Rejects Possible Vaccine Arbitrage Between Three Choices
February 28, 2021, bloomberg.com, by Michael Riley and Ros Krasny
Anthony Fauci pushed back against any tendency to shop around or wait for a preferred coronavirus vaccine among the three that are now approved for use in the U.S...Fauci said on ABC. “The only way you really know the difference between vaccines is by comparing them head to head.” [Editor's note: The advice is to take any vaccine that is available.]
CDC's Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html
3/8/2021 People are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 2 weeks after they have received the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or 2 weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson [J&J]/Janssen).
FAQ
How long will my vaccine protection last?
Source: Bloomberg Prognosis, April 4, 2021
Lana Dbeibo, an infectious disease expert at Indiana University School of Medicine, said it is possible that we might need booster vaccines as we do for flu shots. “But whether this will indeed be the case for Covid, and if so, what the length of time is between the initial vaccination and the booster doses, is not yet known,” she says.
Two-dose shots should be from the same brand
Dr. Julian Watkins of the NYC Dept. of Health clarified questions about getting vaccinated. He said that the two-dose shots should be from the same brand (no mixing and matching Pfizer and Moderna); to wait two weeks after any other immunization before getting vaccinated for COVID; to wait until after quarantine to get vaccinated if exposed to COVID; and that any former COVID patients should wait three months after monoclonal antibody or convalescent plasma treatments before getting vaccinated. [Source: Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer's Coronavirus update email of April 1, 2021]