The COVID-19 vaccine will be distributed in phases to groups of people at increased risk of COVID-19 exposure or severe COVID-19 illness. Phased distribution will take time, with vaccines not expected to be widely available to all New Yorkers until mid-2021.
The different phases of COVID-19 vaccine distribution are determined by New York State and may change. New York City is committed to ensuring that access to the vaccine is fair and equitable.
The table below reflects our best estimate of who will receive the vaccine and when. We will update our guidance regularly as we learn more.
People who are eligible based on their employment must attest that their job requires them to have in-person contact with members of the public or with co-workers, or that they are unable to work remotely. They must also have proof of employment in New York, such as an employee ID card, a letter from their employer or affiliated organization, or a recent pay stub (depending on your specific priority status).
If you are eligible for a vaccine based on your age, you must show proof of age and New York residency, such as New York State driver’s license, IDNYC, passport (age), birth certificate (age), mail (residency) or a rent or mortgage statement (residency).
High-risk hospital workers (emergency room workers, ICU staff and Pulmonary Department staff)
Federally Qualified Health Center employees
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workers
Coroners, medical examiners and certain funeral workers
Urgent Care providers
People administering COVID-19 vaccines, including local health department staff
All Outpatient/Ambulatory frontline, high-risk health care workers of any age who provide direct in-person patient care
All staff who are in direct contact with patients (such as reception staff)
All frontline, high-risk public health workers who have direct contact with patients, including those conducting COVID-19 tests, handling COVID-19 specimens and COVID-19 vaccinations
This includes, but is not limited to:
Doctors who work in private medical practices and their staff
Doctors who work in hospital-affiliated medical practices and their staff
Doctors who work in public health clinics and their staff
Registered Nurses
Specialty medical practices of all types
Dentists and Orthodontists and their staff
Psychiatrists and Psychologists and their staff
Physical Therapists and their staff
Optometrists and their staff
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Aides
Home care workers
Hospice workers
Residents and Staff in Certain Group Living Facilities
Nursing homes and other congregate care facilities
NYS Office of Mental Health, Office People with Developmental Disabilities, and Office of Addiction Services and Supports facilities
Phase 1b:
As of Monday, January 11
Older Adults
People ages 65 and older
Grocery Workers
Public-facing grocery store workers
First Responders and Support Staff for First Responder Agencies
Fire Service
State Fire Service, including firefighters and investigators (professional and volunteer)
Local Fire Services, including firefighters and investigators (professional and volunteer)
Police and Investigations
State Police, including Troopers
State Park Police, DEC Police, Forest Rangers
SUNY Police
Sheriffs' Offices
County Police Departments and Police Districts
City, Town and Village Police Departments
Transit of other Public Authority Police Departments
State Field Investigations, including Department of Motor Vehicles, State Commission of Correction, Justice Center, Department of Financial Services, Inspector General, Department of Tax and Finance, Office of Children and Family Services and State Liquor Authority
Public Safety Communications
Emergency Communication and Public Safety Answering Point Personnel, including dispatchers and technicians
Other Sworn and Civilian Personnel
Court Officers
Other Police or Peace Officers
Support of Civilian Staff for any of the above services, agencies or facilities
Corrections
State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Personnel, including correction and parole officers
Local Correctional Facilities, including correction officers
Local Probation Departments, including probation officers
State Juvenile Detention and Rehabilitation Facilities
Local Juvenile Detention and Rehabilitation Facilities
P-12 Schools, College, Child Care and Early Intervention
P-12 school or school district faculty or staff (includes all teachers, substitute teachers, student teachers, school administrators, paraprofessional staff and support staff including bus drivers)
Contractors working in a P-12 school or school district (including contracted bus drivers)
In-person college instructors
Licensed, registered, approved or legally exempt group child care
Licensed, registered, approved or legally exempt group child care providers
Employees or support staff of licensed or registered child care setting
Licensed, registered, approved or legally exempt child care providers
Early Intervention therapists and teachers with active service authorizations (as of January 13)
State Office of Children and Family Services:
State operated staff
Licensed or certified residential programs staff and eligible residents
Public Transit
Airline and airport employees
Passenger railroad employees
Subway and mass transit employees (MTA, LIRR, Metro North, NYC Transit, Upstate Transit)
Ferry employees
Port Authority employees
Public bus employees
Homeless Shelters
People living in a homeless shelter where sleeping, bathing or eating accommodations must be shared with people who are not part of their household
People working (paid or unpaid) in a homeless shelter where sleeping, bathing or eating accommodations must be shared by people who are not part of the same household, in a position where there is potential for interaction with shelter residents
Other Residential Programs and Supportive Housing
Staff and residents of residential programs for victims of domestic violence and family type home for adults
Staff and residents of unlicensed congregate supportive housing
Next Eligible Groups
Phase
Eligible Groups
Phase 1b:
Likely starting February 2021
Other frontline essential workers (to be determined by New York State)
Other at-risk groups (to be determined by New York State)