Fewer Black hospital workers accepting Covid-19 vaccine than other groups, Cuomo says
Updated Jan 31, 2021;
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Syracuse, N.Y. Fewer African-Americans who work in hospitals are accepting the Covid-19vaccine when compared with other races and ethnicities, according to breakdowns released by Gov. Andrew Cuomo today.
Blacks represent 17% of all hospital workers across the state, he said. And all hospital workers have been offered the coronavirus vaccine to date, the governor said.
Yet only 10% of the vaccinated hospital workers are Black, he said.
“I think it’s the clearest demonstration of hesitancy,” he said, “which I understand but it’s something you have to overcome.”
About 2,000 Covid-19 vaccine appointments still available at NY State Fair
Updated Jan 31, 2021;
Geddes, N.Y. As of about 2 p.m. Saturday, there were still hundreds of Covid-19 vaccine appointments on days during March and April, according to the state’s “Am I Eligible” signup website.
As of 8 a.m. this morning, the website showed there were still appointments available at the New York State Fair, SUNY Potsdam and the Plattsburgh International Airport.
You can follow the link in the first paragraph or you can call 833-697-4829 to try to book an appointment.
The state’s other 10 large-scale vaccination sites are booked for now.
Overdose deaths spike 40% in Syracuse area; the loneliness of Covid-19 feeds a drug epidemic, officials say
Updated Jan 29, 2021;
Posted Jan 29, 2021
The bar at far right shows opioid deaths for the first nine months of 2020. The death total for the entire year will be available in April.
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Syracuse, N.Y. – A 40% increase in opioid deaths in Onondaga County during the first nine months of 2020 is being blamed in part on the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Onondaga County Health Department reported 121 opioid overdose deaths through the end of September, up from 86 deaths reported for the same period of 2019. The nine-month total nearly matched the county’s opioid death toll of 127 for all of 2019.
Covid vaccines for Central NY teachers, school staff: Could they be forced to get a shot?
Updated Jan 27, 2021;
Posted Jan 27, 2021 The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Educators are eligible for the Pfizer or Moderna Covid vaccine as part of Phase 1b. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com
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Could it become mandatory for teachers and other school personnel once the vaccine supply becomes more available?
While possible the state could order school employees to get shots, it’s not likely - at least not yet.
Jay Worona, deputy executive director and general counsel for the New York State School Board, said under New York state law, the governor could mandate the Covid vaccines for school district employees through an executive order.