Despite
having months to prepare, the largest vaccination drive in modern history is
off to a rocky start across the tri-state.
Hundreds
of vaccine-seekers this week turned to News 12 in frustration with horror
stories of dropped calls, glitchy online forms, incorrect information and
hourslong waits.
Those
issues were witnessed first-hand by News 12.
With
only 300,000 vaccine doses arriving weekly to New York, state officials warn it
will take at least six months to vaccinate the 7 million people already
eligible.
President-elect
Joe Biden pledged to ramp up the supply chain during an address Thursday night.
In
Connecticut, only half of the vaccines received so far have been used. In New
Jersey, about 40% have been used. In New York, despite receiving the nation's
third-largest shipment of doses, there are still roughly one-third waiting to
go into arms.
New
York state Sen. Alessanda Biaggi blamed federal resources going toward
“pharmaceutical companies who are manufacturing the vaccine” – leaving “very
little money” for distribution.
“With
that said, the state and the city have done a terrible job coordinating their
efforts,” she said.
Biaggi,
who sits on the state’s Health Committee, says many doses have been trashed
because the drug protocols are so strict. She's calling for stronger oversight,
better tracking and more state-run inoculation sites.
Gov.
Cuomo has renewed calls for patience “at an impatient time in history.”
Experts
say to try scoring an easier appointment at one of the bigger inoculation
sites, such as the Westchester County Center and the Javits Center.