Vaccine Appointment Frustration & Anxiety
Vaccine Appointment Frustration & Anxiety – Chasing Vaccine Appointments that Aren’t There: Just one week after Phase 1b of the state’s vaccination plan rolled out, many people are feverishly searching for vaccine appointments that just aren’t there. While the governor advises that the pace of vaccination is rapidly increasing, doses in Westchester County are hard to find. In fact the most recent COVID vaccine update from County Executive George Latimer on westchestergov.com is from January 11 and provides scant information other than a good detailed list of eligibility requirements.
Over seven million New Yorkers are now eligible to receive the vaccine however the state is currently receiving 250,000 per week from the federal government. Unless the supply increases that’s going to be a long wait for many. While the governor indicated it could take up to 14 weeks to get through phase 1b, unless supplies increase the math on this takes us up to 28 weeks to complete the Phase 1b cycle. While vaccine developments are subject to daily change – including cancellations – it is most likely that you will have to wait until additional supplies become available to book an appointment. Before you burn out on vaccine frustration and anxiety, here’s some big picture guidance on how to get a COVID vaccine now and in the foreseeable future.
Am I eligible? The first thing you will have to do is check your eligibility. If you are over 65 years or age you are eligible. First responders, EMS workers, education workers, public transit workers, public safety workers, corrections workers and public facing grocery store workers are also eligible. You can check your eligibility here.
The Role of Northern Westchester Hospital & Westchester Medical Center
Westchester Medical Center is serving as the coordinator for the Hudson Valley Region Hub of New York State’s Regional Vaccine Network. In this role WMCHealth is currently providing vaccinations to community providers under the New York State guidelines but are not administering vaccines to populations eligible for Phase 1b. Northern Westchester Hospital received authorization to be a COVID-19 vaccination site on January 16th but has no appointments available for the limited supply they have.
The Role of Caremount Medical (Has not received vaccines yet)
Caremount has still not received the COVID-19 vaccine from New York State (NYS). In a communique last night they noted that there are no medical groups in our region that have available vaccine and at this time NYS is focused on distributing vaccines to their large distribution centers and pharmacies. When Caremount Medical does receive vaccine supplies they will administer vaccines at several locations by appointment only, however, urgent care centers will not be part of their distribution network. While appointments are required to receive the vaccine and there is no waiting list, you can’t actually make an appointment. When your number is up, based on their patient database, they will contact you.
The Role of Pharmacies (Not yet)
Though Caremount Medical, in their evening alert last night, suggests that New York is focused on suppling state centers and pharmacies, in our area the pharmacies do not appear to have received many vaccines, either. Although CVS anticipates administering vaccines in all 10,000 of their pharmacy locations across the country, the vaccine is currently available in only select stores in IN, MA and NY, including Erie and Suffolk County. While Rite Aid stores are on distribution lists in New York City, the Rite Aid website suggests that they expect their role will become more important during Phases 2 and 3 when the vaccine is available to the general public.
The Role of New York State (Where the action is – and isn’t)
It has been reported that the majority of vaccine doses are going to state run centers. However, even that appears to be an understatement in Westchester County. Nonetheless, the state centers are where the action is right now. And, also where it isn’t. While New York State is currently operating eleven vaccination centers (appointment required at all) including the Westchester County Center in our area. Currently, only the SUNY Potsdam Field House, the Plattsburgh International Airport, and the SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica have appointments available. You can follow this link to the eligibility form. If you are eligible for an appointment, you will be able to click through to the list of state providers where you can schedule an appointments when new supplies become available. Or you can call 833-NYS-4-VAX.
Our Phone Call with the New York State COVD Hotline
We called the telephone hot line this morning and after a twelve-minute wait (not bad) were told that though vaccinations are ongoing no additional appointments are available in Westchester or Long Island. Our telephone representative told us that in our area vaccine appointments are booked through April. The state is expecting more vaccines by February at which time they would take new appointments that will run through May. She did say that appointment opportunities do change and suggested it is worthwhile calling again – though, perhaps not every day, just once a week. She also said the hotline was your best bet, as opposed to trying to schedule online. Here’s a list of all New York State Vaccine Centers.
- Javits Center, 429 11th Avenue, New York, NY 10018
- Jones Beach – Field 3, 1 Ocean Pkwy, Wantagh, NY 11793
- State Fair Expo Center: NYS Fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Blvd Syracuse, NY 13209
- SUNY Albany, 1400 Washington Ave Albany NY 12222
- Westchester County Center, 198 Central Avenue, White Plains, NY 10606
- Aqueduct Racetrack – Racing Hall, 110-00 Rockaway Blvd, South Ozone Park, NY 11420
- Dome Arena (DBA Roxbury Dome Partners LLC), 2695 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 14467
- Plattsburgh International Airport – Connecticut Building, 213 Connecticut Rd, Plattsburgh, NY 12903
- SUNY Binghamton, 10 Gannett Drive, Johnson City, NY 13790
- SUNY at Buffalo South Campus – Harriman Hall, 3435 Main St., Buffalo, NY 14214
- SUNY Potsdam Field House, 44 Pierrepont Ave, Potsdam, NY 13676
- SUNY Stony Brook, 100 Nichols Rd, Stony Brook, NY 11794
Vaccinations in New York City: Thecity.nyc recently reported that more than one in four people who have received vaccinations in the city live outside the five boroughs. However, if you don’t live in New York City you may need to demonstrate that you work there to be eligible for a vaccine at non-state centers. If you do, you can check the NYC Vaccine Finder to schedule an appointment, assuming you can find one. If you want to keep tabs on vaccination opportunities in the city: Currently eligible New Yorkers can subscribe for two weeks of email notifications when new appointments are added at NYC Health’s vaccinepod.nyc.gov.
The Post-Holiday Spike That Wasn’t
The good news is that the expected post holiday spike that should have shown full effects by mid-January have not materialized. Though New York’s positive test rate remains well above late summer’s lows (.09% on September 18) at 6.54% – that’s down from a fall/winter peak of 7.8% two weeks ago. Our Mid-Hudson Region, which includes Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Ulster, Dutchess, Sullivan and Orange counties remains above the state median at 7.1% – one of four regions remaining above 7%. Westchester’s positive test rate last week dropped to 6.6% from 7.2% last week and 7.8% two weeks ago. New York State’s positivity rate peaked at 49.9% on March 30 and was as low as .09% on September 18. It wasn’t until November 5th that it returned to as high as 2%.
Nationally, the 7-day rolling average positive test rate dropped to 10.9% from 13.2% last week and 13.6% two weeks ago, according to the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine’s Coronavirus Resource Center. The US positive test rate peaked at 21.9% in the spring and bottomed at 4.1% in June and 4% in October.
More like this
You may also like
Editor's Choice
Bucket List
