Updates and Resources
Eligibility Expanded to Ages 12+
Everyone age 12 and older is eligible to receive a free COVID-19 vaccine in New York state. Walk-ins are now accepted for all regional health department and state-run clinics and some pharmacies. Click here for guidance and consent about vaccinating minors.
Masking Guidance Update
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued new indoor mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people, allowing them to safely stop wearing masks inside in most places.
However, the CDC guidance says people need to continue masking in indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, and other crowded venues. The CDC removed the need for masks or social distancing for those who are fully vaccinated and acknowledges that states and localities may have their own guidance or restrictions.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says the CDC masking guidance is under review by New York State Health Officials.
Below is a summary of the CDC guidance:
- If you are fully vaccinated, you can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.
- Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
- If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, find a vaccine.
Walk-in Access Expanded at State-Run and Monroe County Sites
State-operated vaccine centers: All eligible New Yorkers age 16 and older are eligible to be vaccinated on a walk-in basis — no appointment needed — at any state-run vaccination site. This is for state vaccination sites only—which means, in the Finger Lakes region: the Dome Arena site.
Monroe County: Appointments are no longer required at any Monroe County-operated vaccine center for any eligible individual. These centers include the Rochester Riverside Convention Center, County Fleet Center and our Community Based clinics in the city of Rochester. Check here for locations and schedules: https://www.monroecounty.gov/health-covid19-vaccine
Statement on Resuming Use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine
The Finger Lakes COVID-19 Vaccine Hub and vaccine providers in the Finger Lakes Region are following federal and state recommendations to resume the use of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine. We encourage anyone who has questions about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to speak with their health care provider.
Second Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine Now Available Through Many Pharmacies
To ensure people receive both doses of COVID-19 vaccine, federal health officials have given pharmacies participating in the federal vaccine distribution program permission to provide second doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to any eligible individual, including those who received their first dose from another provider. This means, for example, that college students who received their first dose on campus can get their second dose while home on summer break. See the full list of participating pharmacies.
Media Briefings
May 27: Update on Finger Lakes COVID-19 vaccination efforts with Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, Monroe County Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza, and Finger Lakes COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force co-chair Dr. Nancy Bennett.
May 6, 2021: Update on Finger Lakes COVID-19 vaccination efforts with Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, Monroe County Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza, Ontario County Public Health Director Mary Beer and Finger Lakes COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force co-chair Wade Norwood of Common Ground Health.
En español: https://youtu.be/uRq6fnL1ZJE
Apr. 22, 2021: Update on Finger Lakes COVID-19 vaccination efforts with Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, Monroe County Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza, and Finger Lakes COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force co-chairs Dr. Nancy Bennett and Wade Norwood of Common Ground Health.
En español: https://youtu.be/ojEKluyanyY
Mar. 18, 2021: Update on Finger Lakes COVID-19 vaccination efforts with Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, Monroe County Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza, and Finger Lakes COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force co-chairs Dr. Nancy Bennett and Wade Norwood of Common Ground Health.
En español: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xu0G6uea10
Mar. 4, 2021: Update on Finger Lakes COVID-19 vaccination efforts with Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, Monroe County Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza, and Finger Lakes COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force co-chairs Dr. Nancy Bennett and Wade Norwood of Common Ground Health.
En español: https://youtu.be/mxyP1Lg55HY
Feb. 10, 2021: Update on Finger Lakes COVID-19 vaccination efforts with Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, Monroe County Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza, Ontario County Public Health Director Mary Beer, and Finger Lakes COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force co-chairs Dr. Nancy Bennett and Wade Norwood of Common Ground Health.
Jan. 13, 2021: Community vaccination plan update with Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, Monroe County Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza, Genesee and Orleans County Health Director Paul Pettit, and Finger Lakes COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force co-chairs Dr. Nancy Bennett and Wade Norwood of Common Ground Health.
Jan. 5, 2021: COVID-19 vaccination plan update with Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, Monroe County Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza, Ontario County Public Health Director Mary Beer, and Finger Lakes COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force co-chair Dr. Nancy Bennett.
Dec. 16, 2020: COVID-19 vaccination update with Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, Monroe County Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza, and Finger Lakes COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force chairs Dr. Nancy Bennett and Wade Norwood of Common Ground Health.