The Peru Gazette

As you may have read, today the CDC and the FDA issued a statement recommending a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine out of an abundance of caution. New York State will follow the CDC and FDA recommendation and pause the use of the J&J vaccine statewide while the federal government evaluates next steps. As the CDC and FDA stated, these adverse events “appear to be extremely rare.” Six people who have received the J&J vaccine in the U.S. developed blood clots, and the reason for the pause is to make sure all health care providers can identify the symptoms and treat patients with the correct medical protocol. But the context—six people reported with a problem out of 6.8 million who received the vaccine—is important to remember. While health care providers are notified and the federal government reviews the situation fully, New York State will continue to administer the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which are completely unaffected by this pause and which make up the vast majority of our supply. The State Department of Health is in constant contact with the federal government and will provide updates.

Photo of the Day: Today I spoke in Walden, NY, about new efforts to vaccinate farm workers (Photo by Darren McGee)

1. COVID hospitalizations rose to 4,175. Of the 128,912 tests reported yesterday, 5,029, or 3.90 percent, were positive. The 7-day average positivity rate was 3.16 percent. There were 869 patients in ICU yesterday, up nine from the previous day. Of them, 564 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 58 New Yorkers to the virus.

2. As of 11am this morning, 38.6 percent of New Yorkers have completed at least one vaccine dose. Over the past 24 hours, 219,846 total doses have been administered. To date, New York has administered 12,253,659 total doses with 25.5 percent of New Yorkers completing their vaccine series. See data by region and county on the State’s Vaccine Tracker: ny.gov/vaccinetracker.

3. Today we launched a new targeted initiative to bring the vaccine to farmers and food producers. Our farm workers produce the food that ends up on our tables, and it’s critical they have access to the COVID-19 vaccines. Because they often live in rural areas, getting the vaccine can be more challenging. Today we launched a new effort to bring pop-up vaccination sites directly to farms and food production facilities. Learn more.

4. The State-run vaccination site in Albany will move locations beginning the morning of Friday, April 16. The new, larger location will be at the Crossgates Mall, on the lower level of the former Lord & Taylor. It is fully indoors. If you have an existing vaccine appointment at the former SUNY Albany location, you will receive an email or text update with this information. All existing dates and times will stay the same. Additionally, the COVID-19 drive-thru testing facility at SUNY Albany is unaffected by this move and will remain in place.

Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: A COVID survivor showed his thanks for the health care heroes who took care of him by running his first-ever 5k, NBC New York reported. Gabriel Cid, 45, was hospitalized for COVID a little over a year ago. He spent weeks on a ventilator, but thanks in no small part to the help of 150 nurses and doctors at Greenwich Hospital, he made it through. Many of those same hospital workers were there to congratulate him again at the finish line. Cid said his run was a way to express his gratitude to the “angels” who helped him throughout his ordeal, and he encouraged everyone to get vaccinated to help keep hospital workers safe.

Ever Upward,

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo