More than a dozen states will offer COVID-19 vaccines to
anyone 16 and older by the end of this month.
But New York is still limiting vaccine eligibility to those
aged 50 and older with no set date to expand.
State Sen. Shelley Mayer (D-Yonkers) says the most
vulnerable must be prioritized, but she understands the urgency many people
feel.
"I'm hopeful we are going to move quickly to have a
younger age,” she told News 12.
According to the New York Times, at least 34 states have
pledged to make vaccines universally available to their adult populations by
mid-April, and at least 14 more have announced plans to expand eligibility on
or before May 1, a goal set by President Joe Biden.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the state will expand eligibility
only if vaccine allotments increase.
The situation has been frustrating for Margaret Gocha, a
Manhattanville college student.
"I just feel like it’s not fair that other states are
letting 16-year-olds…why can’t we?” she asked.