The COVID-19 vaccine is here!
Now, here's how to get it!
Over 7 million New Yorkers are now eligible for the COVID vaccine
but the state only receives 300,000 doses per week from the federal government.
Due to limited allocation by the federal government, appointments have filled up quickly.
Currently, appointments have been booked for the next 14 weeks.
Vaccinations are performed by local health departments, pharmacies, doctors’ offices and hospitals.
Please call them for appointments as they become available and for additional information
but the state only receives 300,000 doses per week from the federal government.
Due to limited allocation by the federal government, appointments have filled up quickly.
Currently, appointments have been booked for the next 14 weeks.
Vaccinations are performed by local health departments, pharmacies, doctors’ offices and hospitals.
Please call them for appointments as they become available and for additional information
As of January 11, 2021, New Yorkers in Phase 1a and Phase 1b are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Eligible groups include doctors, nurses, health care workers, and first responders, as well as teachers, transit workers, grocery store workers and people over age 65.
- Health care workers will continue to be vaccinated at hospitals and in other clinical settings.
- People age 65 and over will be primarily be vaccinated at pharmacies and other local retail sites. New York state has set up an online tool to determine your eligibility, as well as a vaccination hotline (open 7am-10pm, 7 days a week) to help schedule vaccination appointments: 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829). This is just the first step toward receiving the vaccine.
- If you are eligible, you will receive a list of providers to contact to schedule an appointment.
- Appointments are required. If you visit a provider without an appointment, you will not receive a vaccine.
- Public employees (like teachers, police and fire departments, public transit workers) will be primarily vaccinated through their groups' relevant health programs or as organized by their unions.
- Second dose appointments will be booked at the site where you received your first shot. Both currently available vaccines require a second shot to ensure effectiveness.
What to Know
Process and immune response
Immunity
Researchers do not yet know how long immunity after vaccination lasts. That’s why continuing prevention practices like wearing a mask, washing your hands regularly and social distancing will still be important.
Immune Response after Vaccination
Researchers studying the vaccines currently in clinical trials report that it is common for people to feel fatigue and mild to moderate pain or muscle soreness at the injection site and have a fever. This is the body’s immune response to the vaccine and a sign that the vaccine is starting to work. A second dose of the vaccine is very important to ensure full protection. Mild pain relievers should help you feel better if you experience any of these side effects. Call your health care provider if you don’t feel better within two or three days.
No serious side effects related to the vaccines have been reported.
Researchers do not yet know how long immunity after vaccination lasts. That’s why continuing prevention practices like wearing a mask, washing your hands regularly and social distancing will still be important.
Immune Response after Vaccination
Researchers studying the vaccines currently in clinical trials report that it is common for people to feel fatigue and mild to moderate pain or muscle soreness at the injection site and have a fever. This is the body’s immune response to the vaccine and a sign that the vaccine is starting to work. A second dose of the vaccine is very important to ensure full protection. Mild pain relievers should help you feel better if you experience any of these side effects. Call your health care provider if you don’t feel better within two or three days.
No serious side effects related to the vaccines have been reported.
Availability
Vaccination is underway for high-risk priority population groups. New Yorkers who are currently eligible to get vaccinated are outlined in phases. Vaccine supplies will increase over time and are expected to be more widely available in spring or early summer 2021.
Currently, two COVID-19 vaccines have been approved by the FDA and New York State's independent Clinical Advisory Task Force: one that was developed by Pfizer and BioNTech and another that was developed by Moderna.
Currently, two COVID-19 vaccines have been approved by the FDA and New York State's independent Clinical Advisory Task Force: one that was developed by Pfizer and BioNTech and another that was developed by Moderna.
Staying safe
Stopping this pandemic will require using all tools available. Wearing masks, hand washing, and social distancing help lower your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others. A vaccine will help your body fight the virus if you are exposed.
Experts need more time to understand the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide before deciding to change recommendations on mask use. Other factors, including how many people get vaccinated and how the virus is spreading in communities, will also affect this decision.
Experts need more time to understand the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide before deciding to change recommendations on mask use. Other factors, including how many people get vaccinated and how the virus is spreading in communities, will also affect this decision.
vaccine safety
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) for two COVID-19 vaccines which have been shown to be safe and effective as determined by data from the manufacturers and large clinical trials. These data demonstrate that the known and potential benefits of this vaccine outweigh the known and potential harms of becoming infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19). There is also continuous monitoring by the CDC and FDA for any issues or safety concerns with the vaccine.
Source: New York State Department of Health