In-person college instructors now included in Phase 1b of New York’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan
Eligible members of our community may now schedule appointments, though availability is subject to limited federal supply
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Jan. 11 that Phase 1b of the New York State COVID-19 Phased Distribution plan has been expanded to include in-person college instructors.
With the initiation of Phase 1b, SUNY police and faculty teaching in-person courses are now eligible to schedule an appointment to receive the vaccine. Campus health care workers remain eligible, as they are categorized in Phase 1a. Anyone 75 years or older is also eligible to schedule a vaccine appointment.
Governor Cuomo’s announcement notes that vaccine supply remains limited at the federal level. As such, eligible New Yorkers should be prepared to receive an appointment date for as far as 14 weeks in the future.
Use this link to review and fill the New York State COVID-19 Vaccine Form.
At this time, SUNY New Paltz has not been asked to be or designated as a vaccination site. Members of our campus community should direct all questions about vaccination to county and state health departments and your primary health care provider. We recognize that the decision to be vaccinated is a personal one, but we hope you take time to review the information and links provided below, and if you do decide to get vaccinated, that you schedule an appointment soon.
County health departments have set up online forms to help residents determine if they are eligible to receive the vaccine and to request notification when vaccination appointments are available. For example, Ulster County offers this Vaccination Information Request Form.
New Yorkers can also use the state’s “Am I Eligible” app to determine their status under this new guidance, and to search for nearby providers where vaccination appointments can be scheduled. There is also a New York State Vaccination Hotline that can be reached at 833-NYS-4VAX (1-833-697-4829) as of Jan. 11 at 4 p.m.
We expect this situation to continue to evolve and encourage members of our community to check their county health department and state websites frequently for updates. We will share additional SUNY-specific information about vaccinations with the campus community as soon as it is available.