Governor Kathy Hochul announced Saturday that New Yorkers age 50 and older who received a booster shot at least four months ago, or adults who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, are currently receiving a booster shot. eligible for a second booster dose. New Yorkers 12 years of age or older and with moderate to severe immunodeficiency are also eligible.
“Getting vaccinated and up to date with all recommended doses is the most effective way to prevent serious illness and hospitalization, and move forward safely through this pandemic,” Ms. Hochul said.
New Yorkers can Make an appointment for a free booster shot at one of more than a dozen public immunization sites, including Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn; Queensbury Aviation Mall-Sears in Queensbury; State Fair Art and Home Center in Syracuse; and University at the Buffalo South Campus at Harriman Hall in Buffalo.
The booster shots are one dose of the mRNA vaccine – Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna.
At a news conference Friday at City Hall, New York City health commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan also encouraged city dwellers to get booster shots and wear masks in public indoor places, indicated that he was wearing a mask while reporting. conference. People can find free vaccination sites and schedule vaccination appointments at New York City Department of Health website.
The governor’s announcement comes as health officials estimate that BA.2 – The most contagious version of the coronavirus unidentified – accounts for more than half of all new virus cases in the United States, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week. Sub-variable Omicron accounts for about 70 percent of cases in the region including New York, New Jersey and Puerto Rico.
Although BA.2 is more contagious than BA.1, it has not been shown to cause more severe illness.
Health experts fear that BA.2, which has fueled a surge in cases in Europe and Asia, could lead to another wave of pandemics in New York and possibly the whole country. They believe the true number of cases in New York may be higher than the figures suggest, because many people are testing at home, with no official report on the results.
That has prompted health officials to urge New Yorkers to stay vigilant.
“As we have seen with the recent increase in BA.2 sub-Omicrons, Covid remains with us,” Dr. Mary T. Bassett, state health commissioner, said in the statement Saturday. “These safe and effective vaccines are still available free of charge, including the second booster.”
