Expanded vaccine eligibility list

Expanded vaccine eligibility list

Nurse Ellen Quinones prepares a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the Bathgate Post Office vaccination facility on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in the Bronx, New York. (AP Photo/Kevin Hagen).

(East Farmingdale, NY)-  More New Yorker’s are now eligible to receive a COVID vaccine.  Federal guidelines changed Tuesday morning to include persons aged 65 and up and individuals who are “immune compromised”. The expansion on Tuesday is in addition to the group of people who became eligible on Monday, which includes Teachers, Fire Fighters, Police officers and more.

Clarity however, is still needed from New York Governor Cuomo about what would define “immune compromised” and who would be able to get in line in New York for a vaccine under this designation.

The CDC website says adults with the following conditions are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19; Cancer, COPD, Down Syndrome, Obesity and Severe Obesity, Pregnancy, Smoking, Type 2 Diabetes, Heart Conditions such as coronary artery disease, Immunocompromised state from organ transplant, Sickle cell disease, Chronic Kidney Disease.

The CDC also says adults with the following conditions might be at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19; Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, Cerebrovascular Disease, Liver Disease, Neurologic Conditions, Overweight, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Type 1 Diabetes, also Hypertension or high blood pressure, Immunocompromised state from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids or other immune weakening medicines, Thalassemia.

Cuomo said Tuesday, vaccinating Health Care Workers, should still remain a top priority.  The NY Governor also continued to push the Federal Government to increase vaccine supply to New York, noting that now 7 million New Yorker’s are eligible for the vaccine but there are still only 300,000 dosages per week, to go around for the entire state.

Photo:Nurse Ellen Quinones prepares a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the Bathgate Post Office vaccination facility on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in the Bronx, New York. (AP Photo/Kevin Hagen).