Coronavirus Vaccine 2nd Doses Could Have To Wait, De Blasio Says

NEW YORK CITY — A push by Mayor Bill de Blasio to tap into COVID-19 vaccine stocks reserved for second doses could delay the full, two-shot vaccination for some New Yorkers.

De Blasio on Tuesday admitted as much but said the city's current shortfall of first doses warranted such a move.

Seniors have been living in fear and even the partial protection afforded by a first dose is worth it, de Blasio said.

"I really believe that when we move the second doses up and use them for first doses whenever possible, it just allows us to do the most essential thing, which is protect people," he said. "Fifty percent protection for a senior citizen is so much better than no protection at all. And again, spend some time with our seniors, and you hear this loud and clear — whenever I've talked to a senior about what this means to them, it's sounds obvious, but I'm going to say it, it's a matter of life and death."

De Blasio's push for greater "flexibility" to dole out vaccine doses has been a recurring topic in his daily briefings. But his ability to do so depends on state permission or federal recommendation — neither of which has been forthcoming.

The city so far administered 650,546 coronavirus vaccine doses, according to health data.

It only has 7,710 first doses on hand while it waits for its weekly allotment of more than 107,000 doses, officials said.

The number of second doses yet to be scheduled was 72,409 as of Tuesday morning, according to data.

De Blasio said the city is now stuck giving out very few vaccinations. He noted a recent CDC recommendation that the second vaccine dose can be given after six weeks — instead of three or four weeks — of receiving the first shot.

That could open up the timing for second doses, he said.

"We're absolutely committed to everyone getting their second dose, period," he said. "Everyone will get a second dose. Anyone who gets a first dose will get a second dose. The question is timing in the context of the scarcity we're experiencing."