NYPD cops, correction officers now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine
Mayor Bill de Blasio says New York City will start to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine to the NYPD this week — despite the governor saying they don’t qualify for the vaccine yet.
“We expect about 10,000 officers to be reached by Sunday,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said at his daily morning press conference.
The mayor added that 25,000 of the NYPD 35,000 uniformed officers are eligible for the vaccine.
It was unclear if those eligible was limited by rank or assignment.
New York guidelines, however, appear to only allow for law enforcement to get the vaccine if they are trained EMTs as part of the state’s 1A Group, which includes healthcare workers.
“Police who are not healthcare workers are not yet eligible. We need to get the healthcare population done first, because they are the frontline as I mentioned before,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.
When asked how the officers qualified, a City Hall spokeswoman said, “These are officers who are on the ground, providing essential services – think CPR, administering Narcan, or responding to a 911 call.”
The disconnect is the latest in the feud between the governor’s office and City Hall on how to handle the pandemic.
It was unclear how many NYPD officers were also trained as EMTs. The department did not respond for comment.
The mayor also added New York City Correction Officers were also now eligible for the shot — but a spokesman said later on Wednesday the state had ordered the city to not proceed.
“The State has ordered the City to not vaccinate more vulnerable city workers, including DOC and officers who regularly perform CPR and administer Narcan,” spokesman Bill Neidhardt said.
Cops had been scheduled to start receiving the shots in December, but it was delayed because the state hadn’t supplied enough doses.
Starting Sunday, law enforcement will be able to get the vaccine at the Army Terminal in Brooklyn and Bathgate Complex in the Bronx around the clock with an appointment.
“This is an important step towards clearing away the red tape and protecting both police officers and the New Yorkers we help every single day,” Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch said in a statement.
“This pandemic has only strengthened the bond between cops, EMTs, hospital staff, firefighters and all of the members of our ‘frontline family.’ When we respond together to emergency scenes or hospital wards, we need to have the same vaccine protection.”
The head of the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association praised the announcement.
“[W]e welcome today’s news from Mayor de Blasio that the city plans to do just that,” COBA president Benny Boscio Jr. said