SYRACUSE, N.Y. — On Tuesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that anyone 60-years-old or older can get vaccinated starting today.
If you're in this group, you can begin registering for an appointment at 8 a.m. on March 10.
Then, on March 17, all sites, state-run or otherwise can vaccinate anyone who is eligible. Pharmacies, however, are restricted to only vaccinate people 60-years-old or older and teachers.
The governor also said new worker groups will be added on March 17, although the descriptions he gave of those groups were vague. 2 On Your Side will update this story when more specifics are announced.
“The public-facing, public employees will also be eligible, not-for-profit public-facing emergency employees and employees who are providing necessary services like the YWCA, they will also be available. Essential public workers will also be available, public-facing building workers will also be available," said Cuomo.
"These are the people who are everyday heroes who are out there doing their job, they're putting themselves in a possible position of exposure. They are essential for us to continue operating," Cuomo said.
Cuomo also addressed the racial inequities of COVID-19 and the importance of the vaccine in vulnerable communities. Cuomo said that twice as many Black people die from COVID-19 as white people.
The Centers for Disease Control backs that up: Black Americans are 1.9 times more likely to die from COVID than white Americans.
Additionally, the CDC says Hispanic/Latino Americans are 2.3 times more likely to die from COVID, Native Americans or Alaska Natives are 2.4 times more likely to die from COVID, and Asian Americans are 1.0 times more likely to die from COVID, all compared to white Americans.
Cuomo was joined by Rev. DeCarto Draper, who was representing the faith communities of Syracuse. He reflected on the impact of COVID-19, speaking on the deaths that have come due to this virus.
"A lot of us think that being, getting the vaccine is responsible but I flip it and say, the vaccine is for those who are irresponsible: for those who won't wear masks, for those who won't social distance, for those who will not think about the families of others," Draper said.
"For those of us that stand here today as clergy, a lot of us have had to stand and commit bodies to the ground because of COVID-19. I said to my congregation: I would rather have a side effect than have to go to the cemetery," Draper said of the vaccine, urging those who can to go and receive it.
"Today's announcement helps us do just that," added Draper.