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NYS Coronavirus Update: Back in the New York Groove -- FDA Expands Authorization of Pfizer Vaccine

May 11, 2021

- As New Yorkers continue to get vaccinated each day, we are focused on rebuilding our state's economy and look forward to a new economic future for New York. Today we announced the launch of "Reimagine, Rebuild, Renew," a multimedia campaign designed to support the state's reopening and to drive economic recovery. This campaign will promote our commitment to growing the economy, improving our infrastructure and helping small businesses as we build back from this pandemic. I hope you'll join us in ushering in a reimagined New York.

Video of the Day: Watch the first "Reimagine" ad, featuring Robert De Niro.

Here's what else you need to know tonight:


1. COVID hospitalizations rose slightly to 2,026. Of the 99,656 tests reported yesterday, 1,516, or 1.52 percent, were positive. The 7-day average percent positivity was 1.34 percent. There were 491 patients in ICU yesterday, down two from the previous day. Of them, 290 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 32 New Yorkers to the virus.


2. As of 11am this morning, 60.4 percent of adult New Yorkers have completed at least one vaccine dose. Over the past 24 hours, 111,833 total doses have been administered. To date, New York administered 16,938,242 total doses with 49.4 percent of adult New Yorkers completing their vaccine series. See additional data on the State's Vaccine Tracker.


3. The FDA expanded the emergency use authorization of the Pfizer vaccine to include people ages 12-15. Tomorrow, the CDC's vaccine advisory committee, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), will meet publicly to review data and discuss whether to recommend the vaccine for this age group to the CDC director. Following the review, State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker will meet with New York State's Clinical Advisory Task Force and make a final recommendation, which means we could have full authorization for vaccinations to begin for 12- to 15-year-olds here in New York as early as Thursday.


4. New York will participate in the federal partnership with Uber and Lyft to help vaccinate New Yorkers. Today, the White House announced a new partnership with ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft, which will offer free rides to and from vaccination sites from May 24 to July 4. More details will be forthcoming.


Tonight's "Deep Breath Moment"
: With baseball back, a Syracuse Mets fan was able to attend his 50th consecutive opening day game. Fairmont resident David Smolnycki has been attending opening day since he was sixteen. Although the 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic, Smolnycki was able to reunite with his baseball family after 614 days, returning to MacArthur Stadium to resume his streak.

andrew-cuomo-news-conference.jpgIf you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe to New York State's Coronavirus Updates here.
Ever Upward,
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo