New York state adults to be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination by April 6
New York will expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility for people aged 30 and older on Tuesday, and make it available to anyone 16 and above on April 6, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday.
New York last week lowered the eligibility age for vaccines to 50. Since President Joe Biden called for reaching that goal by May 1, New York was one of a handful of states not to have set a concrete date for universal eligibility.
The decision comes as New York and neighbouring New Jersey are witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases, which now rank No. 1 and 2 in new infections per capita among all 50 states.
Cuomo said in a statement that today they take a monumental step forward in the fight to beat COVID. Cuomo said, “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.”
New York is the country’s fourth most populous city. It has administered more than 9 million total vaccine doses to date, with 30% of its population receiving at least one dose, Cuomo added.