Governor Cuomo announced today that phases of COVID-19 vaccine distribution in New York State will soon open to those with underlying medical conditions in mid-February.

For New York State you can check if you’re eligible by following this link: Am I Eligible App. You can also call the New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline at 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829).

State and local governments continue to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for designing phases of distribution. The CDC has defined a list of medical conditions as the most common conditions that increase risk for severe illness or death from COVID-19. This is what New York State is following. The list includes conditions that are often present in our patients, which allows for their inclusion: pulmonary disease including but not limited to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma (moderate-to-severe), pulmonary fibrosis, intellectual and developmental disabilities, hypertension (high blood pressure), chronic kidney disease, patients who are taking an immunosuppressive drug after a kidney transplant, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, or diabetes. But the CDC also acknowledges that their list is not all-inclusive and is subject to change, and it may not include conditions that are very rare but should be considered. This is where we can help.

We at the Dysautonomia Center continue to advocate for the inclusion of our patients in earlier phases of COVID-19 vaccine distribution. If you need a letter verifying your condition and the reasons why you should be included, we can provide that for you.

Vaccine eligibility from NYU Langone will be posted through MyChart, as determined by the NYU Langone vaccine task force. For more information on this, see NYU Langone.org.

You may be able to get the vaccine earlier through smaller community hospitals, pharmacies, and state or city run community vaccination sites as they are created. Please keep all of these options in mind.

Other useful links to check for vaccine eligibility include:

DOH websites for NY, NJ, and CT for eligibility questionnaires and other vaccine appointment opportunities.

We understand many of our patients and their families are anxious to be vaccinated. In the meantime, continue to wash your hands often, wear masks, physically distance from others and avoid crowds.

The Dysautonomia Center