What you should know
- Some vaccination sites, particularly large pharmaceutical chains including CVS pharmacies, are asking those who want a booster shot to justify their request by showing that they are 65 or older or that they are employed as essential workers.
- Mayor Bill de Blasio acknowledged Thursday that pharmacy chains may not have understood when New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said he was issuing a “barrier-free” notice, or in other In other words, all adults over the age of 18 who want a booster shot can get it.
- However, a CVS spokeswoman told our sister network News 4 New York: “We understand that some states may expand the criteria for boosts of COVID-19 vaccines, but our participation in the Federal Pharmacy Program requires that we continue FDA and CDC recommendations. “
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NEW YORK – Although New York City has issued an advisory allowing all adults who want a COVID-19 booster shot to get one in an attempt to overcome rising COVID-19 cases, some are finding that It is not as fluid a process as they thought.
In Lower Manhattan, Renata Prentes was receiving a COVID-19 test on Thursday, before her Thanksgiving trip. She also received a booster.
“Once the boosters were available, I decided to take them asap,” said Prestas, a Tribeca resident.
But, several New Yorkers are discovering that it is not a smooth process as they thought. Some vaccination sites, particularly large pharmaceutical chains including CVS pharmacies, are asking those who want a booster shot to justify their request by showing that they are 65 or older or that they are employed as essential workers.
Mayor Bill de Blasio acknowledged Thursday that pharmacy chains may not have understood when New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said he was issuing a “barrier-free” notice, or in other In other words, all adults over the age of 18 who want a booster shot can get it.
“We have to take the message better to the pharmacies,” acknowledged de Blasio.
However, a CVS spokeswoman told our sister network News 4 New York: “We understand that some states may expand the criteria for boosts of COVID-19 vaccines, but our participation in the Federal Pharmacy Program requires that we continue FDA and CDC recommendations. “
Meanwhile, New York City Senior Medical Advisor Dr. Jay Varma said the city’s notice does not contradict federal guidelines.
“We do not contradict [las pautas] federal. We’re saying we don’t require a medical condition, “he said.” Essentially what we’re saying is that we don’t require people to testify. “
The city continues to emphasize the need for boosters and for children ages 5 to 11 to get vaccinated because COVID-19 cases are on the rise.
The state health department has reauthorized mask mandates Thursday for schools and healthcare settings, a rule that expires next week.
However, there is good news regarding progress on the vaccine mandate front: 94% of municipal workers are now vaccinated. The NYPD went from 70% vaccinated to 87% in three weeks; the FDNY went from 58% to 88%; and EMS went from 62% of its staff vaccinated to 92%.
“The mandates work! They make people get vaccinated, ”de Blasio said.
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