Taxi Driver and Restaurant Workers to be Added to Vaccine List
Just one day after Governor Cuomo released a statement against vaccine expansion to taxi drivers, restaurant workers, and the developmentally disabled with his reasoning being lack of vaccine availability to these groups — as they account for around 1 million citizens, he has now changed his stance. Announced by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, alongside news of increased allocations (5% weekly according to the White House Announcement) of the vaccine, it is now being determined that taxi drivers and restaurant workers will be added to the list of eligible recipients for the vaccine. Prior to this, Cuomo had approved the reopening of indoor dining up to 25% capacity.
De Blasio is urging officials to permit the remaining vaccines intended for second doses of prior recipients to be used on the influx of new recipients as he anticipates that the new supply will make up for the deficit. He is also banking on the approval of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine candidate as well.
Who Gets the Vaccine Now?
With the addition of a number of new groups now eligible to receive the vaccine, there were questions surrounding who specifically this entailed. Many Lyft and Uber drivers raised concerns on their eligibility under this. Currently, all taxi drivers, taxi services, and services under the Taxi and Limousine Commission as well as third-party taxi services like Uber and Lyft can receive the vaccine as long as they show proof of employment (via ID, badge, letter from employer, pay stub, etc.).
Restaurant delivery staff and wait staff will be considered for the vaccine as well; back of house employees are under the jurisdiction of city and county officials. Any persons who have been laid-off, furloughed or are part-time are currently ineligible unless there is “recent evidence” of employment to assess if they are currently being put at risk.
It is important to remember that immigration status or a Social Security number is not required to receive a vaccination. Overall, increased strategic decisions need to be made to ensure doses are given out fairly, efficiently, and without endangering or putting more at risk.
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