Cuomo: New Yorkers With Pre-Existing Conditions To Receive COVID-19 Vaccines Starting February 15th – Gothamist

Starting on February 15th, people under the age of 65 with certain pre-existing conditions will now qualify for vaccination under the state's guidelines. The governors office released a list of qualifying conditions Friday afternoon.

Co-morbidities and age are the major factors in COVID mortality, Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a press briefing Friday morning, adding that most people who died from COVID-19 had some sort of pre-existing condition. State data shows COVID-19 fatalities are more common among New Yorkers with hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and dementia than other pre-existing conditions.

The state had said people with pre-existing conditions would be eligible for vaccines in mid-January but then no updates were given for weeks. The delay left an estimated 4 million New Yorkers with pre-existing conditions in a perpetual state of anxiety.

According to the CDC, people with health conditions including chronic kidney disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, type 2 diabetics, obesity, smoking and sickle cell disease are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Some preliminary connections have also been drawn between asthma, cystic fibrosis, hypertension or high blood pressure.

Editor's note: This story was updated to include the state's list of qualifying conditions.

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Cuomo: New Yorkers With Pre-Existing Conditions To Receive COVID-19 Vaccines Starting February 15th - Gothamist