Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Friday that the state would receive far fewer Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccines because of problems at the company’s production plant.
“As has been the case since the beginning of our vaccination effort, the X-factor is supply, supply, supply, and like every other state, our allocation of Johnson & Johnson doses will be significantly lower next week,” Cuomo said.
“In Week 18, New York will receive just 34,900 Johnson & Johnson shots – a drop of 88% week-over-week and the first decrease in weeks. While no appointments should have to be canceled, we will not be able to get as many shots into New Yorkers’ arms as we would like. We hope the production issues are resolved as soon as possible, and that production ramps up quickly so we can expand the number of New Yorkers who are vaccinated.”
The shortage comes just as the state has expanded the group of people eligible to receive the vaccination, dropping the age this week to 16.
STATEWIDE BREAKDOWN
- Total doses administered – 11,386,866
- Total doses administered over past 24 hours – 294,412
- Total doses administered over past 7 days – 1,461,634
- Percent of New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose – 36.0%
- Percent of New Yorkers with completed vaccine series – 23.1%
- 294,412 Doses Administered in the Last 24 Hours
Meanwhile, state Attorney General Letitia James warned Friday that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are free and urged any resident who has been charged a fee to report it to her office immediately.
“As we continue to make progress in recovering from this public health crisis, it is vital that every individual has access to this free, lifesaving vaccine and that there are no barriers to New Yorkers receiving their dose,” she said . “The vaccine is free of charge for all New Yorkers, and I encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible. My office is committed to protecting New Yorkers and enforcing the law, which is why I urge anyone who has been charged a fee for receiving the vaccine to report it immediately to my office.”
COVID-19 vaccines are now available to all New Yorkers over the age of 16, and must be administered free of charge. Individuals who have been charged a fee for vaccination are encouraged to file a complaint online with the Office of the Attorney General or call 1-800-771-7755.
Late last month, Attorney General James issued another alert to New Yorkers to beware of scams making fraudulent promises to consumers, promising them the ability to cut COVID-19 vaccine lines or receive additional stimulus payments. Earlier this month, James and a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general sent a letter to the CEOs of Twitter, eBay, and Shopify, asking the CEOs to act immediately to prevent the sale of fake COVID-19 vaccination cards on their platforms.
Covid-19 Update: Warnings on Possible Vaccine, Stimulus Payment Scams