Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is calling on New York State to immediately reconsider the decision to exclude emergency services personnel from the first round of COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Despite national recommendations and previous planning considerations, New York State has decided to no longer consider EMS personnel to be “High Risk” and therefore, the state does not plan to include them in the first round of vaccine distribution.
“The Governor’s decision to exclude our EMS personnel, who have been on the frontlines since the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, is completely inexcusable,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “Our first responders are interacting with hospital staff, healthcare personnel, and in some cases COVID-19 patients. They must be included as part of the group that is set to receive the first round of the vaccine. I am joining several other local elected officials, county administrators, and public health officials in calling on the Governor to reconsider this deplorable decision and protect our emergency personnel as soon as possible.”
