Frontline nonprofit workers now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine

Nonprofit workers providing public-facing services to New Yorkers in need will become eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines starting on March 17, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday.

The expanded eligibility applies to workers providing direct services – largely in the social services sector – that interact with the public, according to the state. This designation won’t apply to some other nonprofit workers who might also work in-person, such as museum staff. Workers who don’t provide direct services, such as those doing administrative work, also don’t qualify.

Some essential workers at food banks, certain homeless shelters and child care programs have already become eligible under state guidelines. But this new announcement provides a broader definition for other workers and organizations in the sector providing services to people in need.

Public-facing employees in government and building service workers, as well as New Yorkers above the age of 60, will also be newly eligible for doses.

“With our staff protected against the virus, we can more effectively work in the communities we serve to make sure that families in need of food assistance apply for and receive benefits,” Hunger Free America CEO Joel Berg wrote in a statement responding to the news.