BUFFALO, N.Y. — The state is opening up vaccine appointments to more people this week.
Starting Wednesday, Phase 1B is expanding, and we've been getting questions from you about who is included in the expansion.
More than 12 million New Yorkers are eligible to get the vaccine now, and on Wednesday that number will go up as more people are added to Phase 1B.
Jody Lynn asked on Twitter, "Do you have clarity if hairstylists are included in the March 17 occupations to receive the vaccination?"
For reference, last week Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced government employees, nonprofit workers, and essential building service workers are eligible for the vaccine starting March 17. His office issued a press release saying that includes public-facing government and public employees, not-for-profit workers who provide public-facing services to New Yorkers in need, and essential in-person public-facing building service workers.
The press release also said that public works employees, social service and child service caseworkers, government inspectors, sanitation workers, DMV workers, and election workers are all among those included.
For answers, 2 On Your Side went to the New York State Department of Health.
A Department of Health spokesperson sent us a list of all of the occupations that qualify as of March 17, including ones from Phase 1A and earlier in 1B, and we couldn't find hairstylists on the list. It's the same list from the NYS DOH website.
So as of right now, from what we can tell, hairstylists are not eligible to receive the vaccine unless they meet the age or comorbidity requirements. Anyone 60 or older can get a vaccine appointment now in New York State.