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While state expands eligibility, counties do not have enough vaccine
Jan 13, 2021 6:33 am
While county leaders around New York State called the coronavirus vaccine rollout "chaos," and said they did not have enough vaccine to give the first eligible their shots, New York expanded the eligibility list on Jan. 11 to those 75-years-old and older. New York also started a phone line to call in and register for vaccinations that was overwhelmed. So the next day the state further expanded the eligibility to 65 years of age and older, and to people with underlying conditions, even though no great new reserves of vaccine were discovered. On Jan. 12 Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan said he was "making calls all weekend long" to try to get more doses of the vaccine. Ryan says about 15,000 Ulster County residents were eligible to receive the vaccine last week, but the county has received just 5,500 dosages over the past three weeks, including 1,200 so far this week. On Jan. 11 Greene County told people 75-plus not to call for appointments because they do not have enough vaccine to give everyone first eligible a shot. Now the state has twice expanded the number of folks who can now call and find out they are eligible to receive a shot, but they cannot actually get one, because there is not enough vaccine. Meanwhile, Greene County announced 22 more positive COVID-19 tests Jan. 12, and Columbia County announced 37 new cases. Albany County reported 351 new cases on Jan. 12, and a new temporary hospital overflow area. There were 74 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed to the Rensselaer County Health Department, and two more deaths. Ulster County added 103 new positive coronavirus tests Jan. 12, while Dutchess County added 574 over the past four days.