All New Yorkers 16+ can get vaccine without appointment starting today

The move to expand vaccine access comes as infection rates are decreasing in most of the state.

News 12 Staff

Apr 29, 2021, 10:19 AM

Updated 1,259 days ago

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Starting today, all New Yorkers over 16, seeking COVID-19 vaccinations, will be accommodated on a walk-in basis at all state-run vaccination sites.
The move to expand vaccine access comes as infection rates are decreasing in most of the state.
Here is a list of state-run vaccine sites in the Hudson Valley:
  • SUNY Orange In Middletown
  • Ulster Fairgrounds in New Paltz
  • SUNY Rockland Community College in Suffern
  • Westchester County Center in White Plains
  • New York National Guard Armory in Yonkers
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the move on Tuesday. "The more New Yorkers who get vaccinated, the faster we will defeat the COVID-19 pandemic and rebuild a new and better state and economy for everyone," said Cuomo, who announced the new walk-in policy in Johnson City in the state's Southern Tier.
SEARCH FOR A CURE: Statistics and State Resources
VACCINE INFORMATION: What you need to know
Back in February, when appointments were few and far in between, there were lines around the block at the Westchester County Center.
Today, the wait is nearly nonexistent now that vaccine demand is dropping and more people are already vaccinated. "We're moving forward, and it's time that we all start getting back home to what used to be considered a normal life. So at least a life where people can get together and go out and start seeing each other," says Loretta Zilembo, of Elmsford.
The Westchester County Center is open for vaccines between 8 a.m. and 6:45 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome until 6 p.m.Cuomo announced last week that state-run mass vaccination sites would provide walk-in shots to people 60 and over. The new policy will drop the age limit for walk-in appointments. The state-run mass vaccination sites administer the Pfizer vaccine, which can be given to anyone over 16.
Walk-in vaccinations are already available for all eligible ages at New York City-run sites.
The walk-in appointments at state-run sites are for first doses only, Cuomo said. Second doses of the two-shot Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be scheduled automatically after the first shot is administered, he said.
Cuomo also said that New York state will follow the guidelines announced Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention allowing fully vaccinated Americans to go maskless in some situations.
"The CDC announced new guidance today saying that when Americans who are fully vaccinated are outside, biking, hiking, running, or in small gatherings, you don't need to wear a mask," Cuomo said in a statement. "That is liberating, especially now that the weather is getting warmer."
AP wires were used in this report.