New York State Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D,I-Utica/Rome) and her colleagues, Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried, Assembly Mental Health Committee Chair Aileen Gunther, and Assembly Governmental Operations Chair Kenneth Zebrowski, today sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar regarding the limited numbers of COVID-19 vaccines that the federal government is distributing to New York State.

“I have heard from many constituents who have patiently waited months for a COVID-19 vaccine to be available. These individuals, be they seniors, those who work in publicly facing occupations, or those who are immunocompromised, are ready to be vaccinated. Yet, due to the fact that HHS is only distributing 300,000 vaccines to New York State each week, some of these individuals are going to have to wait weeks or even months before they are vaccinated. This is unacceptable and must be remedied as soon as possible if we want life to return to normal. Vaccination is vital to reopening our economy and to ensuring New Yorkers feel safe in their communities.”

The full text of Assemblywoman Buttenschon’s letter is below:

January 12, 2021

The Honorable Alex Azar
Secretary
US Dept. of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20201

Dear Secretary Azar:

As duly elected Members of the New York State Assembly, we are fully committed to ensuring a swift, safe, and effective distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations.

We are writing to stress that more vaccines are quickly needed by residents in New York State. Our offices receive countless calls from pandemic-weary New Yorkers, particularly seniors, who would like to be vaccinated for COVID-19 as soon as possible, but who find themselves unable receive a vaccination due to limited vaccine availability.

It extremely discouraging that the federal government is only allowing 300,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to be released each week in New York. At this rate, it will take close to three months, if not longer, for New Yorkers in Phases 1A and 1B to receive their vaccinations. This is unacceptable, particularly so, if we are to meet the goal of vaccinating enough individuals to achieve herd immunity thereby protecting the most vulnerable Americans and resuming normal life and operations in order to rebuild our economies and help struggling businesses.

Thank you for the commitment you have made to protect and support New Yorkers in these unprecedented times.

Sincerely,