Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that all New Yorkers age 30 and over will be eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine starting Tuesday at 8 a.m.
Additionally, all New Yorkers ages 16 and over will be able to get the shot starting on April 6.
"As we continue to expand eligibility, New York will double down on making the vaccine accessible for every community to ensure equity, particularly for communities of color who are too often left behind,” Cuomo said in a statement. “We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but until we get there it is more important than ever for each and every New Yorker to wear a mask, socially distance and follow all safety guidelines."
The expanded eligibilty now includes approximately 2 million more people, bringing the total number of eligible residents across the state to 14.2 million. That climbs to 16 million when everyone age 16 and up becomes eligible.
Also, jail and prison inmates across the state will soon be eligible for COVID vaccinations.
A state Supreme Court judge ruled Monday that the state has to offer the vaccine to its incarcerated population. The governor's counsel said the state Department of Corrections has already administered nearly 20,000 vaccinations to inmates.
Eligibility requirements in New York and across the country have expanded after President Joe Biden earlier this month announced that all Americans will be able to get the vaccine beginning on May 1.
"Now, because of all the work we've done, we'll have enough vaccine supply for all adults in America by the end of May. That's months ahead of schedule. And we're mobilizing thousands of vaccinators to put the vaccine in one's arm,” Biden said in an address to the nation on March 11.
According to the governor’s office, more than 2 million total doses have been administered at state-run and FEMA assisted mass vaccination sites. And more than 9 million doses have been administered statewide. At this time, the governor said that 30% of New Yorkers have received at least one dose of the life-saving vaccine.
Meanwhile, the state's seven-day average infection rate hovers above 4%. Total hospitalizations are at 4,575, and 57 New Yorkers lost their lives to COVID-19 yesterday.
To book an appointment at a state-run vaccination site visit covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov.
Additional reporting from Alyssa Paolicelli.