Gov. Cuomo Prioritizes Drug Addicts Over Elderly for Coronavirus Vaccine
Elderly population takes another blow from Democrat governor
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Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has prioritized drug addicts in rehab facilities for the COVID-19 vaccine, while the elderly are left waiting.
This is another blow to the elderly since Cuomo forced COVID-positive long-term care residents back to their care facilities.
The New York Post reported:
“Recovering addicts in residential rehab facilities will be among those vaccinated against the coronavirus this week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo obliquely revealed Monday."
“During a virtual news conference in Albany, Cuomo said the state was expecting to receive a combined 259,000 doses of Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines,” the report said.
“In addition to urgent care center employees and ‘individuals who are administering the COVID-19 vaccines, for obvious reasons,’ Cuomo said that shots would be given to residents of ‘OASAS’ — the state Office of Addiction Services and Supports.”
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Cuomo said at the presser:
“These are congregate facilities. Congregate facilities are problematic.
"That’s where you have a lot of people in concentration."
“Nursing homes are obviously the most problematic because they’re congregate plus older, vulnerable people. OASAS facilities, what we call the O facilities, they’re congregate — not necessarily older — but congregate facilities.”
The New York Association of Substance Abuse Providers lobbied for addicts in rehab facilities to get vaccinated, according to The Post.
“We were overlooked initially. We got the governor’s office’s attention, and Gov. Cuomo acted appropriately,” said Luke Nasta, the nonprofit’s director.
Nasta said drug addicts must be prioritized because they are likely “to get the disease and spread it."
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Cuomo has faced massive backlash from New Yorkers for his decision to pritois3e drug addicts over the elderly.
NYS is continuing to demonstrate the most bizarre priorities.
— Councilman Deutsch (@ChaimDeutsch) December 29, 2020
There are several million seniors and immuno-compromised New York State residents. As the folks with the highest death rates from COVID, why are they not at the top of the list? https://t.co/uCa3IcCU7o
My 89 year old mother can’t get vaccinated yet but dope addicts are next up. Peak NY. https://t.co/5HE0bmFTHF
— Reggie Dunlop (@sgtbuzzcut) December 29, 2020
EMS workers to get covid vaccine in same wave as drug addicts.https://t.co/8AMB92nUyQ
— Bob Lonsberry (@BobLonsberry) December 29, 2020
Earlier this month, Cuomo faced more backlash after he announced a ban on all indoor dining in the city due to a rise in Covid-19 cases.
The restrictions come amid a growing backlash from business owners in the city pushing back against Cuomo's lockdown orders.
The city will only allow outdoor (despite the freezing climate at this time of year) dining and takeout orders.
