Beginning Friday, New Yorkers will have access to the latest COVID-19 vaccine, announced Gov. Kathy Hochul, in light of a minor surge in the state’s case numbers and hospitalizations.
This new vaccine is not merely a booster but is designed specifically to combat recent variants of the virus.
“It is literally a new vaccine… designed to attack the new variants,” emphasized Hochul. CDC advisers recently endorsed the shot for those aged 6 months and up, highlighting its capability to guard against severe outcomes rather than just mild infections.
Available at physicians’ offices, pharmacies, and other healthcare providers starting Friday, the governor also reinforced the mandate for nursing homes to offer this vaccine to residents and maintain a stockpile of COVID-19 test kits, masks, and PPE.
As the new academic year commences, rapid test kits and masks are being provided to school districts upon request. The state currently reports a seven-day average of 14 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. While this figure is elevated compared to summer statistics, it remains significantly lower than the peaks of 2021 and 2022. “This is not the bad old days… But shame on us if we don’t see the warnings,” cautioned Hochul, indicating no immediate return to stringent pandemic restrictions.
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