NYC Grocery Store, Shelter Workers Can Get Coronavirus Vaccine

NEW YORK CITY — A set of top-to-bottom changes in coronavirus vaccination eligibility and distribution sites could dramatically expand the number of New York City dwellers who can get the life-saving doses.

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday announced grocery store workers and people who work in shelters are now eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. He pressed for food delivery workers to be included in category 1b — a wide group of vaccine-eligible New Yorkers includingcertain essential workers.

“In fact, all delivery workers of all kinds should get vaccinated,” he said. “They're coming in contact with so many people — they're serving us, we depend on them, they deserve the right to be vaccinated. We want the freedom to vaccinate delivery workers, we want the freedom to vaccinate folks who work in bodegas and delis.”

But as de Blasio publicly asked for more clarification on who exactly can be vaccinated in priority 1b, Gov. Andrew Cuomo near-simultaneously announced the category will expand to another category: people 65 and over and the immunocompromised.

Cuomo said the change, which he made somewhat begrudgingly, stems from new CDC guidance. He voiced worry that the state doesn’t have enough vaccine supply to cover the 7 million more New Yorkers now eligible for the vaccine.

“We will do the best we can,” he said.

De Blasio also expressed concern about vaccine supply. But he also emphasized the city is expanding the number of vaccination locations.

He announced Citi Field will serve as a vaccine “mega site.” He starting Jan. 25 it’ll open all hours to serve 5,000 to 7,000 people day.