Vaccine rollout off to 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.

News 12 Staff

Jan 24, 2021, 7:21 PM

Updated 1,431 days ago

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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.