NY Vaccine Eligibility Expands, Health Experts Stress Vigilance

Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD, senior associate dean for health policy, and Thomas A. Russo, MD, professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, are quoted in reports on New York State expanding vaccine eligibility to any person over the age of 30. Experts warn that people need to keep their guard up as the vaccination roll out continues. “My only concern is that people may hear this and think so OK I’m vaccinated, I can’t get it and I can’t transmit it so why do I need to wear a mask? I would say don’t make that leap just yet,” said Nielsen. “Luckily not as many people dying or hospitalized because we have some treatments now. But this is not a time to take this lightly or to be cavalier or rip off your mask or burn all your masks, not a good time.”