NYS says it needs to define immunocompromised before people can register for vaccines

New Yorkers will not be able to register under for the vaccine under immunocompromised until the state has a clearer definition, according to a spokesperson for the state.

TOMORROW.ANYONE 65 ANDOLDER AND ANYONEWITH AN IMMUNO-DEFICIENCY ARESUPPOSED TO BEELIGIBLE TO GETTHE VACCINE.ONE LOCAL COUPLECLAIMS THEYSHOULD BOTH BEON THE LIST.BUT AS GILATMELAMED REPORTSNEW AT 11 -- RIGHTNOW ONLY ONE OFTHEM MAKES THECUT.AFTER HEARINGTHE NEWS THATPEOPLE 65 ANDOLDER AND PEOPLEWHO AREIMMMUNOCOMPROMISED ARE ELIGIBLEFOR THE COVID-19VACCINE... THISWILLIAMSVILLECOUPLE WENT TOSIGN UP.BUT ONLY SUSANCOULDSUCCESSFULLYCOMPLETE THEPRE-SCREENER.SHE'S OVER 65.DAVID IS 64 ANDIMMUNOCOMPRISED.."THERE WERE NOQUESTIONSRELATIVE TO THATAT ALL."THERE'S NO OPTIONTO CHECKIMMUNOCOMPROMISED ON THE FORMDETERMININGELIGIBILITY... SO HEWAS DENIED."IN MY MIND I'MTHINKING IFTHEY'RE DIRECTINGYOU TO THEWEBSITE, SOMEONELIKE ME IS GONNAGET APPROVED."THE STATE SAYS IT'SSTILL WORKINGWITH THE CDC ON ACLEARERDEFINITION OF WHOFALLS UNDERIMMUNOCOMPROMISED.AND UNTIL THENNEW YORKERS WILLNOT BE ABLE TOREGISTER UNDERIMMUNOCOMPROMISED.THAT'S WHYTHERE'S NO OPTIONON THE FORM."I ACCEPT WHERE IAM ON THE LIST IJUST WANT TO GETON THE LIST IF I'MELIGIBLE."UB'S CHIEF OFINFECTIOUSDISEASES DR.THOMAS RUSSOSAYS A WIDEVARIETY OF PEOPLECOULD FALL UNDERTHIS CATEGORY."ANY OBVIOUS ONEWOULD BE HIVINFECTION,HOWEVER CERTAINCANCERS AND EVENDIABETES COULDCAUSE A RELATIVEIMMUNOCOMPROMISED STATE."DR. RAUL VAZQUEZSAYS HE'S ALREADYFLAGGING PATIENTSIN HIS SYSTEM WHOCOULD QUALIFY."FIRSTRESPONDERSTHAT'S EASIER YOUKNOW 1A 1B OVER65 THAT'S EASIERBUT THEIMMUNOCOMPROMISED COMPONENT IMEAN YOU GOTTAJUST MAKE SURETHAT YOU'REGETTING YOURDOCTOR IF YOUHAVE THESECONDITIONS TOSOMEHOW GETTHAT INFORMATIONTO WHEREVERYOU'RE GOING TOBE VACCINATED."THE ERIE COUNTYHEALTHDEPARTMENT SAYSUNTIL THE STATEHAS A CLEARDEFINITION IT CAN'TESTIMATE HOWMANY PEOPLELOCALLY FALLUNDERIMMUNOCOMPROMISED.IN BUFFALO, GILATMELAMED, 7EYEWITNESS NEWS.