Lt. Gov Hochul visits Jones Beach vaccination site as doses dwindle

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul says the newly opened drive-thru facility is designed to keep drivers safe.

News 12 Staff

Jan 21, 2021, 11:17 PM

Updated 1,220 days ago

Share:

There is a dire need for vaccines on Long Island as Gov. Andrew Cuomo warns that the state could be out of doses by the weekend.
The mass COVID-19 vaccination site at Jones Beach has been in operation for a week and has administered 6,400 doses so far. But the immediate future of New York's efforts is uncertain.
Cuomo says at the rate shots are currently being administered, doses could be gone in the matter of days. He says this is because the federal allocation is too low to keep up with demand.
Recently, New York has been receiving around 250,000 doses of the vaccine per week. Cuomo says at that pace, it would take about seven months to vaccinate all 7 million people who are currently eligible to get the shot.
On Thursday, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul toured the Jones Beach facility. She says she is hopeful the Biden administration will ramp up production significantly, but that it could take time before the change is felt.
"The reality is they can't just go overnight like that and have new production. It will probably be months and months, summer, fall, winter, before it will have the effect we need it to have," says Hochul. "And that's the frustrating reality we're dealing with."
When asked if the Jones Beach facility could pause its operations due to a lack of doses, Hochul says that's not the plan at this point but that it's all dependent on the federal supply.
Judy Clark, 65, of West Hempstead, is among those who doesn't know what to do now that her vaccine appointment was suddenly canceled due to the lack of supply.
"Now it's just impossible to get anything. I got on the website, New York state, Northwell, Nassau County, and everything is booked," says Clark.
Hochul says New York has enough workers and facilities to give out more shots, but simply can't at this point.
"We have over 1,200 facilities open in the state of New York. We could double or triple that overnight," says Hochul. "We have the ability to do that, it's just whether or not there's enough supply to get out."


More from News 12
1:45
Beachgoers pack the Jersey Shore to mark unofficial start of summer

Beachgoers pack the Jersey Shore to mark unofficial start of summer

2:33
Pleasant conditions continue Sunday in New Jersey; storms move in on Memorial Day

Pleasant conditions continue Sunday in New Jersey; storms move in on Memorial Day

1:47
More than the Shore: New Jersey celebrates Memorial Day weekend in Hoboken

More than the Shore: New Jersey celebrates Memorial Day weekend in Hoboken

1:11
Thousands participate in 46th annual Spring Lake 5-mile run

Thousands participate in 46th annual Spring Lake 5-mile run

Dolphin stuck in NJ creek dies after ‘last resort’ rescue attempt, officials say

Dolphin stuck in NJ creek dies after ‘last resort’ rescue attempt, officials say

Guide: 2024 Memorial Day Parades in New Jersey

Guide: 2024 Memorial Day Parades in New Jersey

2:08
Blood test that detects colon cancer close to receiving FDA approval

Blood test that detects colon cancer close to receiving FDA approval

1:34
'This is unbelievable traffic.’ Memorial Day travelers share road trip blues

'This is unbelievable traffic.’ Memorial Day travelers share road trip blues

0:18
Prosecutor: Man accused of killing man in Roselle park turns himself in

Prosecutor: Man accused of killing man in Roselle park turns himself in

2:50
Police: 1 person injured in explosion at Sayreville power station; hundreds without power

Police: 1 person injured in explosion at Sayreville power station; hundreds without power

0:24
Newark man convicted of robbing poker player in Atlantic City

Newark man convicted of robbing poker player in Atlantic City

1:34
Fire at commercial building in Secaucus sends plumes of smoke into the air

Fire at commercial building in Secaucus sends plumes of smoke into the air

0:51
Jersey Proud: Ashley Lauren Foundation helps provide pool to boy with brain cancer

Jersey Proud: Ashley Lauren Foundation helps provide pool to boy with brain cancer

0:44
Gov. Murphy announces $100M Boardwalk Preservation Fund for the Jersey Shore

Gov. Murphy announces $100M Boardwalk Preservation Fund for the Jersey Shore

2:10
Jersey Shore business owners hope for successful Memorial Day, despite Route 71 bridge repairs

Jersey Shore business owners hope for successful Memorial Day, despite Route 71 bridge repairs

2:07
‘It was like a nightmare. Very scary.’ Thursday’s severe storm creates chaos for West Milford residents

‘It was like a nightmare. Very scary.’ Thursday’s severe storm creates chaos for West Milford residents

6:13
EXCLUSIVE: Donald Trump one-on-one interview with News 12

EXCLUSIVE: Donald Trump one-on-one interview with News 12

1:01
2.9 magnitude aftershock hits Tewksbury, USGS says; 177th aftershock since April earthquake

2.9 magnitude aftershock hits Tewksbury, USGS says; 177th aftershock since April earthquake

1:05
Trump floats possible VP picks in News 12 interview

Trump floats possible VP picks in News 12 interview

2:10
2024 Atlantic hurricane season expected to be above-normal, NOAA predicts

2024 Atlantic hurricane season expected to be above-normal, NOAA predicts