Long Islanders face vaccine appointment woes as sites stare down dwindling supply of shots

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says if the federal government does not supply the state with enough vaccines, it will take much longer for New Yorkers to get vaccinated.

News 12 Staff

Jan 18, 2021, 1:07 AM

Updated 1,600 days ago

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COVID-19 vaccination sites are staring down a rapidly shrinking supply of shots after the federal government cut the amount of doses it will give to New York -- from 300,000 down to 250,000.
It comes as Long Islanders voice frustration about the process they face to secure vaccine appointments.
Debbie Hanlon, of Holtsville, made an appointment for her 90- and 92-year-old parents to get a vaccine at Syosset Urgent Care for this Monday.
But on Friday, she got a text from Northwell Health saying the appointment was canceled because they were out of the vaccine and there was no further instruction on what to do next.
Adam Boll from Northwell Health works with 30 Urgent Care centers on Long Island to dole out vaccines. He says they just don't have enough supply from the state and federal government to meet the demand.
Boll says they had to cancel a few hundred appointments for Monday and the next couple of days  
"We're doing everything we can in our power to make it immediately available as soon as we have supply our goal is to get it out there," Boll says.
Hanlon says she was finally able to get an appointment at the Long Island Ducks Stadium in Central Islip for tomorrow.
"If it only was a few hundred people, why didn't they send us an email saying we'll get you on the next opportunity and then when the Ducks Stadium opened, why didn't they let us know?" she wonders.
Richard Parker, of Patchogue, is 64 and has a heart condition. He's hoping that the state will open eligibility for people with underlying conditions.
"If I were to get the virus, I don't know how my body would react to the virus with my condition -- that concerns me a great deal," he explains.
Lori Belbol is a high school teacher on Long Island. She was able to get a vaccine appointment at Jones Beach for Feb. 8, but she says at the rate things are going -- she's worried there won't be enough vaccine in three weeks.
"If the state and federal government can get themselves together get vaccinations out to the people who want them, I think we're going to move in the right direction but until that happens -- I'm concerned," she says.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo says if the federal government does not supply the state with enough vaccines, it will take much longer for New Yorkers to get vaccinated.