ALBANY, N.Y. (WCAX) – New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the new COVID-19 vaccine is available in the Empire State.
School is in session and New York officials are asking everyone to add one more thing to their back-to-school checklist: the new COVID-19 vaccine.
Gov. Hochul is encouraging all eligible New Yorkers to get the shot – especially those at higher risk and people 65 and over.
She says with kids returning to school and cold and flu season right around the corner, this is the time to get it.
“The weather changes. People start going back indoors. Kids are back in school and they’re all spreading a lot of germs. And we do tend to see when the weather changes, a seasonal uptick in illnesses like flu and COVID-19. Now, they spread once it gets cold outside, people spend more time and especially around the holidays,” said Hochul.
Hochul says that the vaccine reduces infection in people 18 to 49 by 57%. She also says it cuts hospital visits by around 50%.
She says that getting the vaccine will mean safer holidays without pandemic complications like masks and quarantines.
The vaccine is free at community health centers across New York.