NYers With Underlying Conditions Can Sign Up For Vaccines Feb. 14

NEW YORK CITY — New Yorkers with underlying health conditions can sign up for coronavirus vaccine shots starting Feb. 14, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

Cuomo said Monday those appointments will be only for state-run vaccination sites. Local health departments will start booking slots Feb. 15 — the day all shots will begin for people with underlying health conditions or comorbidities, he said.

But Cuomo also noted getting a shot likely won’t be easy for those newly-eligible New Yorkers.

“Ten million New Yorkers are chasing 300,000 vaccines every week,” he said.

The state’s vaccine supply woes aren’t anything new. They’ve forced cancellations of appointments in New York City and significantly slowed the city’s vaccination effort.

Cuomo has largely resisted calls to open up vaccine eligibility because of concerns over supply. He tied opening up vaccinations for New Yorkers with underlying health conditions toward a shift in supply from hospitals this week, which have largely completed vaccinations.

New Yorkers with comorbidities seeking vaccines must have verification in the form of a doctor’s letter, “medical information evidencing comorbidity or a signed certification.

The state’s list of qualifying health conditions is:

• Cancer (current or in remission, including 9/11-related cancers)
• Chronic kidney disease
• Pulmonary Disease, including but not limited to, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma (moderate-to-severe), pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and 9/11 related pulmonary diseases
• Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities including Down Syndrome
• Heart conditions, including but not limited to heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, or hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) including but not limited to solid organ transplant or from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, use of other immune weakening medicines, or other causes
• Severe Obesity (BMI 40 kg/m2), Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
• Pregnancy
• Sickle cell disease or Thalassemia
• Type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus
• Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
• Neurologic conditions including but not limited to Alzheimer's Disease or dementia
• Liver disease