T HE C I T Y O F N EW Y O RK O FFI C E O F T H E M AYO R N E W Y ORK, NY 1 0 0 0 7

February 3, 2021

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo Governor of New York State NYS State Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor Cuomo: In New York City, we have been moving full speed ahead with vaccinations, standing up a citywide network of vaccine access points and administering more than 800,000 doses to date. But we’re on the verge of grinding to a halt, forced to plan week-to-week, because of one main challenge: supply, supply, supply, supply. To ease these supply constraints, I ask that you authorize New York City to use second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as first doses immediately. We are ready to go further and faster, but we can’t do it alone. New York State can break through the bureaucratic roadblocks we face with immediate, decisive action that would bridge the gap in our vaccine supply and enable us to ramp back up and really maximize vaccinations—for the good of the City, State, and nation. We know nationwide supply challenges are bigger than any one city or state, and that the federal government has assured us reinforcements are on the way. But we need a path forward now to ensure we can continue vaccinating while federal partners work over the coming weeks to build supply. Here in New York City, we are quickly running out of first doses, with supply dwindling further every week. Meanwhile, available second doses are sitting in NYC going unused because State restrictions prevent us from getting these shots in arms right away. We need the flexibility to use second doses as first doses now, which would give more New Yorkers that vital first layer of protection. Of course, we will also maintain a secure supply of second doses, so we can fulfill commitments for existing second dose appointments. And the science is on our side—the CDC and emerging data have affirmed that a brief delay in receiving a second dose will not reduce long-term protection and may even improve it. We know the demand is there. We know we have the sites to deliver on this commitment equitably across communities so that New Yorkers can choose to get their vaccine at places they know and trust. And we know that vaccinators across New York City have done an incredible job, meeting this moment with the doses we do have.

But we also know we could do so much more, if given the flexibility to use second doses as first doses now. The stakes could not be higher, and New Yorkers are counting on us.

Sincerely,

Bill de Blasio Mayor