De Blasio lays out vaccine distribution plan for homebound seniors
A COVID-19 vaccination site at Nostrand Houses in Brooklyn. Michael Appleton / Mayoral Photography Office
Homebound seniors in need of COVID-19 vaccines will be able to receive doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at home as early as next month, assuming the new vaccine is approved, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Friday.
“When that vaccine arrives, we’re going to take a part of that allotment and devote it specifically to homebound seniors, have nurses and other medical professionals go apartment by apartment to those who cannot even leave their apartment and make sure they are safe,” de Blasio said. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine – which is being reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration next week – would be more convenient to dole out because it only requires one shot and is easier to store than the Pfizer vaccine, for example.
The city also will open up more vaccination clinics at retirement communities and senior living facilities, starting with two sites that opened yesterday. Other efforts include prioritizing more vaccines for home health aides at city vaccine sites and developing new sites to target those workers.