Westchester hospitals with highest number of vaccines given out-
NY Presbyterian Heathcare System-Lawrence Hospital-99%
Northwell Health- Northern Westchester Hospital-62%
Westchester Hospitals with lowest number of vaccines give out-
Montefore Healthcare System –
Mount Vernon Hospital–30%.
Westchester Medical Center-32%
By Dan Murphy
Governor Andrew Cuomo called out hospitals in New York State who were not administering their COVID vaccines in a timely manner, and threatened to fine medical centers up to $100,000 if they didn’t get the doses out into the arms of front line healthcare workers and seniors in nursing homes.
According to data released by Cuomo during one of his COVID updates, about 46% of doses provided to NY hospitals have been given out after three weeks.
The Governor called the slow release of the vaccines to the public unacceptable. “I understand that everyone has a job to do. We need them to administer the vaccines faster. We need to get those vaccines into people’s arms,” said Cuomo, who released a list of the top 10 hospitals doing a good job in getting their COVID vaccines out, and a top 10 of hospitals doing a sub-par job.
“New York Presbyterian hospital healthcare system administered 99% of their allocation. Great,” said Cuomo, pointing to the medical provider that operates Lawrence Hospital in Westchester. Northwell Health, which operates Northern Westchester Hospital, had a rate of 62%, which was in the top 10 of NY hospitals doing a good job delivering the vaccine.
Westchester hospitals with the lowest percentage of vaccines given was Montifiore Health Care system (Mt. Vernon Hospital) at 30%, and Westchester Medical Center at 32%.
Cuomo said that Westchester Medical Center is a “public hospital,” and that “I need those public officials to step in and manage those systems. You have the allocation, we want it in people’s arms as soon as possible. New York State Department of Health sent out a letter yesterday to all hospitals that said if you don’t use the allocation by the end of this week, the allocation you’ve received, by the end of this week, you can be fined and you won’t receive further allocations, we’ll use other hospitals who can administer it better. It also says from the day you receive the allocation you have seven days to use that allocation. This is a very serious public health issue and Department of Health Commissioner Zucker is very firm about making sure the hospitals step up and deliver here. So, any provider who does not use the vaccine could be fined up to $100,000,’ said Cuomo.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer responded, saying “Up to this point, the county executives have had no control over the hospitals. At this point forward, if we’re going to be given authority to act with power and force, we will act with power and force. I take my responsibilities as County Executive very seriously and I welcome any additional responsibility if it helps us effectively distribute the vaccines to our residents.
“The County Government does not have ‘authority’ over the Westchester Medical Center (WMC); it is ably run by Michael Israel and the Board of Directors of WMC. It is a private hospital (WMC was once part of County government over 20 years ago), with its own leadership team and structure.
“However, if the State is giving us the task now, as of today, to work with the Medical Center to help get the best possible results, then I am confident our partnership will help. We have spoken with leadership at WMC and are prepared to move forward vigorously and make sure the supply of vaccines are administered,” said Latimer, who added that COVID cases in Westchester have increased by more than 1,400 in the last week or December into early January, and the deathrate in Westchester has slowed from 41 in late December to 31 in early January.
As of Jan 4, almost 900,000 doses were received in New York State, with less than 300,000 New Yorkers getting their first dose. Many other states are having the same problem of either not getting enough doses or having troubles getting them out to the public.
Currently, CVS and Walgreeens pharmacies are working to get nursing home staff and patients vaccinated.
