More population groups now eligible for COVID vaccine

New York has expanded its list of people eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine currently authorized under emergency use for Pfizer and Moderna.

Those eligible include:

• Health care workers
• Residents and staff members at some group living facilities
• Adults at least 65 years old
• Public-facing grocery store workers
• First responders like fire, police and investigations, public safety communications, and court offices
• Jails
• School district staff members, including teachers, substitute teachers, school administrators and bus drivers
• Public transit employees from subway to buses, to ferries, passenger railroads and airline and airport employees
• Those living and working in some homeless shelters

Appointments are required for vaccination sites, which locally include:

• Montefiore Marble Hill Family Practice, 5525 Broadway
• Rite Aid, 21B Knolls Crescent
• City’s health department vaccine hub at Walton Educational School, 2780 Reservoir Ave.

Public health officials say that while the vaccine works for most people, it won’t work for all. It’s not clear how long protection will last, or when people may need to get vaccinated again.

Even for anyone who is vaccinated, it’s highly recommended to continue practicing coronavirus prevention steps by staying home when sick, washing hands, wearing a face covering, and keeping social distance from others.

Vaccines aren’t expected to be available to the general public until the middle of this year, and even then, it will be available in stages.

In the meantime, public health officials encourage people to get tested for the coronavirus. Testing locations include:

• AFC Urgent Care Bronx Kingsbridge, 5546 Broadway, (917) 688-4590
• CityMD Urgent Care Riverdale, 193 W. 237th St., (718) 303-0479
• CVS Health drive-thru testing, 565 W. 235th St., (718) 543-2007
• Essen Health Care, 5665 Riverdale Ave., (347) 913-4242
• Imperial Pharmacy, 3050 Corlear Ave., (718) 581-0019
• PM Pediatrics Urgent Care, 5740 Broadway, Unit E, (929) 920-5437
• Somos: Ola Pediatrics, 3032 Corlear Ave., (718) 548-4040
• Somos: Redome Wellness, 628 W. 238th St., (347) 587-4020
• Speedy Sticks, 2727 Henry Hudson Parkway, (347) 292-9570

Many testing sites require appointments or advanced screening.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/VaccineNYC.