Tech:NYC Digest: April 2

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Friday, April 2, 2021Happy Friday. Here’s a short edition of the digest today — wishing a happy Good Friday and holiday weekend to all those who celebrate.Was this digest forwarded to you? Subscribe here.

It’s been a big week for the vaccine rollout in NYC:

• Another 2.1 million New Yorkers began vying for vaccine appointments after eligibility expanded this week to the 30+ age group. (Gothamist) That makes 14 million New Yorkers currently eligible to get the vaccine, 6.3 million of whom have already successfully gotten their first dose, according to state data.

  • That will expand again next Tuesday, April 6th, when all New Yorkers aged 16 and older will be able to get the vaccine.

• The demand is topping out: just this week, tens of thousands of new appointment slots in New York opened up every day — and got booked up instantly. Whether you’re currently eligible and still searching for a slot, or getting prepared to start doing so next week, here’s a reminder of the links that can help:

  • State-run sites can be found here, and city-run sites can be found here;

  • Walgreens/Duane Reade locations are found here and CVS locations are found here;

  • TurboVax, Vaccine Finder, and NYC Vaccine List are all great tools that scan and aggregate availability across various types of sites.

  • And if you get your health care through a service like One Medical or another private provider, it’s worth a phone call to inquire about their programs — many have their own supply or have channels to help you get an appointment at a site that does.

• With near universal eligibility, the next phase of the rollout will be to make sure it keeps pace with reopening measures:

  • People are booking vacation plans again, New York lifted its travel quarantine requirement, and the CDC today gave a thumbs up that fully vaccinated people can move forward with travel plans “at low risk to themselves”; 

  • People are setting up their Excelsior Pass or other “vaccine passports” and making plans for their first visits back to sports, art, and entertainment venues;

  • And the city’s most popular restaurants and hotels are opening their doors again.

• The progress in New York inspires optimism, but there’s reason for caution too. (New York Times) New case counts are rising again, largely due to variant strains. New York, New Jersey, and Michigan are particular hotspots of concern, so much so that some officials are advocating that the federal government surge vaccine supply in those places first instead of a strictly population-based approach. (Axios)

• Which is to say: we aren’t out the woods yet. So until you get jabbed — and even after — keep those masks over your mouth and nose, continue to social distance, and keep getting tested regularly.

• Catching up with NYC’s Vaccine Daddy: Huge Ma, the engineer behind @TurboVax, has helped thousands of New Yorkers get vaccinated. Now he’s using his platform to combat anti-Asian racism. (The Cut)

• Joseph J. Salvo, who is retiring after three decades as NYC’s chief demographer, is optimistic that the city will bounce back. (New York Times)

• Meet Your Mayor: this interactive tool asks NYC mayoral hopefuls where they stand on issues ranging from pandemic recovery to transit to the NYPD, and helps you identify the candidate who says they’ll build the future you want. (THE CITY)

Check these sources for verified information from government agencies and public health authorities:

• New York State Department of Health

• New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

• Centers for Disease Control

• World Health Organization

• Download COVID Alert NY, New York's contact tracing app

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