As of January 11, 2021, New Yorkers in Phase 1a and Phase 1b are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Eligible groups include doctors, nurses, health care workers, and first responders, as well as teachers, transit workers, grocery store workers and people over age 65.
Health care workers will continue to be vaccinated at hospitals and in other clinical settings.
People age 65 and over will be primarily be vaccinated at pharmacies and other local retail sites. New York state has set up an online tool to determine your eligibility, as well as a vaccination hotline (open 7am-10pm, 7 days a week) to help schedule vaccination appointments: 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829). This is just the first step toward receiving the vaccine.
If you are eligible, you will receive a list of providers to contact to schedule an appointment.
Appointments are required. If you visit a provider without an appointment, you will not receive a vaccine.
Public employees (like teachers, police and fire departments, public transit workers) will be primarily vaccinated through their groups' relevant health programs or as organized by their unions.
Second dose appointments will be booked at the site where you received your first shot. Both currently available vaccines require a second shot to ensure effectiveness.
Beginning February 15, New Yorkers with certain comorbidities and underlying conditions will be eligible to receive the vaccine. Adult New Yorkers of any age with the following conditions qualify for the vaccine:
Cancer (current or in remission, including 9/11-related cancers)
Chronic kidney disease
Pulmonary Disease, including but not limited to, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma (moderate-to-severe), pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and 9/11 related pulmonary diseases
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities including Down Syndrome
Heart conditions, including but not limited to heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, or hypertension (high blood pressure)
Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) including but not limited to solid organ transplant or from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, use of other immune weakening medicines, or other causes
Severe Obesity (BMI 40 kg/m2), Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
Pregnancy
Sickle cell disease or Thalassemia
Type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus
Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
Neurologic conditions including but not limited to Alzheimer's Disease or dementia
Liver disease
The Covid-19 vaccine is being distributed by the government. We understand healthcare information can be confusing. If you need to help navigating the Covid-19 website or are confused about what you are reading regarding the vaccine, we are here to help. You can make an appointment to use the library computers by calling
STEP 2: Register to Be Notified by ULSTER COUNTY when a vaccine is available at an Ulster County spot (Currently the Kingston Field House and Ellenville Hospital).
NEW YORK STATE COVID VACCINE REGISTRATION INFORMATION