Huge lines were seen spilling out from mass vaccination centers in New York state as officials prepare to start a pilot program administering the single-shot Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine to residents overnight.
Lines of people extending around the block were seen outside of New York's vaccination centers yesterday as people waited for hours to receive their Covid-19 vaccine dose.
One woman even claimed she had been forced to wait up to four hours before receiving her shot and had seen people outside the center huddling together for warmth.
Now though, New Yorkers will be able to receive their dose of the vaccine overnight, with shots being administered at the Yankee Stadium from March 4 and at the Javits Center and New York State Fair from March 5.
Huge lines were seen spilling out from mass vaccination centers in New York state as they prepare to start running a pilot program to administer the singe-shot Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine to residents overnight. Pictured: People waiting outside the Javits Center yesterday
Lines of people extending around the block were seen outside of New York's vaccination centers yesterday as people waited for hours to receive their Covid-19 vaccine dose
News of the pilot program was announced on the governor's website yesterday, saying the state is already taking measures to ensure that distribution of the vaccine is carried out 'as quickly as possible'.
The press release said: 'Thousands of new appointments will be made available at each of the three sites in the coming days.
'Counties, pharmacies, and Federally Qualified Health Centers will also be receiving Johnson & Johnson allocations this week.'
However, it was also pointed out in the release that there is an expected lag in vaccine supplies next week.
Around 164,800 Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses are expected to be delivered to New York this week and the Governor's office said additional sites will be used for the overnight scheme when supplies of the vaccine increase.
One woman even claimed she had been forced to wait up to four hours before receiving her shot and had seen people outside the center huddling together for warmth
Now though, New Yorkers will be able to receive their dose of the vaccine overnight, with shots being administered at the Yankee Stadium from March 4 and at the Javits Center and New York State Fair from March 5
After this initial delivery, New York expects its next allocation from Johnson & Johnson to arrive in another 10 days.
Governor Cuomo said: 'The White House has made great process securing additional Johnson & Johnson vaccines, and New York State will receive a large initial allocation of them to be administered over the next week.
'There will then be a lag in Johnson & Johnson production until it ticks up again roughly two weeks later. This pilot plan will maximize the initial doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and get as many shots in arms as possible.'
Despite emphasis being placed on the speed at which the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be rolled out, the governor's office also said that the pilot programme will not impact on the rollout of the two-shot Pfizer vaccine.
It comes as New York's mass vaccination centers saw long lines and even longer wait-times as people arrived to receive their Covid-19 vaccine.
Liza O'Brien, 58, who is eligible to receive the vaccine because of hypertension, drove from Westchester County to the Javits Center, only to spend four hours waiting - including a period out in the freezing cold, according to the New York Post.
Around 164,800 Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses are expected to be delivered to New York this week and the Governor's office said additional sites will be used for the overnight scheme when supplies of the vaccine increase
The governor's office also said that the pilot programme will not impact on the rollout of the two-shot Pfizer vaccine
She told the paper that despite being dropped off outside the doors of the center, she had to walk to the West Side in order to join the line.
'The wait was long and it was cold out. Many people were huddled because they didn’t expect to wait out for a long time,' she said.
After being contacted on Twitter with a number of complaints about wait times, Mark Levine, who is running for Manhattan borough president, contacted the vaccine site directly.
At one point, the line to enter the Javit Center was so long that it extended as far back as the Hudson River.
Responding to criticisms of the wait times, a spokesperson for Governor Cuomo pointed to the pilot Johnson & Johnson overnight program and said the site is already 'firing on all cylinders'.
News of the pilot program was announced on the governor's website yesterday, saying the state is already taking measures to ensure that distribution of the vaccine is carried out 'as quickly as possible'
Appointments to receive an overnight Johnson & Johnson vaccine can be booked at the Yankee Stadium from today and from the Javits Center and New York State Fair from tomorrow
They said: 'As we expand to vaccinate more New Yorkers, folks might notice some growing pains, but we are actively addressing these concerns in real time.'
Appointments to receive an overnight Johnson & Johnson vaccine can be booked at the Yankee Stadium from today and from the Javits Center and New York State Fair from tomorrow.
New York residents seeking to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccination as part of the overnight scheme at the Javits Center or New York State Fair should make an appointment online or contact the state's Covid-19 vaccination hotline on 833-NYS-4-VAX.
People wishing to book an appointment for a shot at the Yankee Stadium need to contact 833-SOMOS-NY or visit somosvaccinations.com.
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