Nielsen Discusses Message from CDC on COVID-19 Vaccines

More than 900,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the past seven days. Overall, more than 17.3 million doses have been administered across the state. More than 61 percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and up have had at least one dose, and 51 percent of that same group have completed their vaccine series. Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD, senior associate dean for health policy, recognizes that some people may not want to get their vaccine, but she notes that the message from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is: “If you’re vaccinated, you’re golden. If you’re not vaccinated, you’re taking a terrible chance,” she says. She notes: “Just as long as you’re immunocompetent and you’re fully vaccinated, even if a non-vaccinated person comes in without a mask, they’re the ones at risk, not you,” explains Nielsen. “Anybody who is not vaccinated, if you want to be safe, go get the vaccine. The quicker the better.”