Nassau uses dwindling COVID-19 shots to vaccinate first responders, bus drivers

Nassau County used portions of what is has left of COVID-19 shot doses to vaccinate first responders and bus drivers Sunday.

News 12 Staff

Jan 24, 2021, 10:30 PM

Updated 1,416 days ago

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Nassau County used portions of what is has left of COVID-19 shot doses to vaccinate first responders and bus drivers Sunday.
At the Yes We Can Community Center in Westbury, just firefighters and some county bus drivers got the shots and all had reservations.
Similar to other sites on Long Island, demand far exceeds supply.
Roslyn Highlands firefighter Paul Cesarsky got his first dose, and his next one will be in about a month. But Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the state sends out of the vaccine as soon as it comes in from the federal government.
His office says so far on Long Island, over 149,000 first doses have been received and 144,000 administered - equaling a 97% usage rate. In Nassau County, officials say they're only booking appointments if they have a dose to match it.
Officials at the Westbury vaccination site say they are giving out every dose they can and not wasting a single shot, but they add they could give out a lot more if they had the supply. They are hoping the federal government will at least approve a third vaccine sooner than later.
Malverne firefighter Ozzie Hueratas hopes more vaccine supply is sent to the Island. He adds he's not looking forward to the challenges of getting his family an appointment.