Getting COVID-19 vaccine out of turn will be a felony in New York

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo wants to make it a criminal offense to sell or administer the COVID-19 vaccine to anyone out of order. The details of his initiative were shared by the publication CNN.

He said that any person who distorts information about himself or distributes the vaccine to those who do not yet have the right to it, will lose his license (if we are talking about doctors) and will incur criminal punishment.

Cuomo added that he plans to propose a bill criminalizing such activities on January 6, the day of the state’s first session of the state legislature this year.

“For some, this vaccine may be worth its weight in gold,” he said. “And if there is any kind of fraud in the distribution — you let someone escape the line — friends or family — or give them a vaccine to sell — you will lose your license. But I think it should also be a criminal offense, and I'm going to propose a law to that effect. "

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Just a week ago, one of the New York clinics was caught in a scandal and became the object of investigation due to the alleged distribution of the vaccine to those who were not entitled to it.

How to know when it's your turn for the vaccine

On January 4, the state announced the launch of a new app to help New Yorkers determine their eligibility and priority for COVID-19 vaccinations. More about this program told the publication New York Daily News.

The Am I Eligible app is designed to connect users with vaccination centers and make appointments. More information about him can be obtained at State Department of Health website, there you can check your eligibility and priority to get the vaccine.

The state is currently prioritizing the vaccination of health care workers.

Cuomo calls for speeding up vaccinations

Cuomo criticized the speed at which the vaccine was spreading, urging state hospital leaders to speed up the process.

On average, New York State hospitals have administered about 46% of the vaccines they have received so far, according to the governor.

Some health centers, such as New York Presbyterian Hospital, distributed 99% of the vaccines received, while others lagged far behind at 15%, Cuomo said.

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Cuomo urged hospitals to move faster, saying that the New York City Department of Health has sent a letter to their management warning them that if they do not administer the vaccines they have been given to patients by the end of the week, they will no longer receive the drug and may face fines.

To date, approximately 200 vaccines have been administered to patients in New York State, according to Johns Hopkins University.