ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Governor Andrew Cuomo gave a long awaited update on the state of COVID-19 vaccine eligibility for people with underlying health conditions.
Cuomo says that hospitals have one week left to vaccinate workers with their existing allocation. After that, their allocation will be given to local health departments to be used in vaccinating people with comorbidities.
Comorbidities are health conditions that can contribute to more serious cases of COVID-19 or death from COVID-19. The governor said that 94 percent of COVID-19 deaths are people with comorbidities or other conditions.
Cuomo said health departments have a week to prepare before they start receiving allocations to vaccinate these groups starting the week of February 15.
Later in the day, Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa released a list of what conditions would make a person eligible for vaccination.
She said the list is subject to change as more scientific evidence is published and as the state analyzes such data.
Here are the conditions eligible:
- Cancer (current or in remission, including 9/11 related cancers)
- Chronic kidney disease
- Pulmonary Disease, including but not limited to COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma (moderate to severe) pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and 9/11 pulmonary diseases
- Intellectual and developmental disabilities including Down Syndrome
- Heart conditions, including but not limited to heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, or hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) including but not limited to solid organ transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, use of other immune weakening medicines, or other cause
- Severe obesity (BMI ≥ 40kg/m2) Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell disease or thalassemia
- Type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus
- Cerebrovascular disease (affects the blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
- Neurologic conditions including but not limited to Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia
- Liver disease
Cuomo has previously said that New York would largely follow CDC guidance on comorbidities.
Human coronaviruses are usually spread through..
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• The air by coughing or sneezing
• Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
• Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands.
Help stop the spread of coronavirus
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Eat and sleep separately from your family members
• Use different utensils and dishes
• Cover your cough or sneeze with your arm, hot your hand.
• If you use a tissue, throw it in the trash.
Lower your risk
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• If you are 60 or over and have an underlying health condition such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or respiratory illnesses like asthma or COPD, the World Health Organization advises you to try to avoid crowds or places where you might interact with people who are sick