Children
who get vaccinated against COVID-19 will also have a chance to go to a SUNY or
CUNY school for free – an incentive announced Tuesday by Gov. Kathy Hochul.
According
to the state website:
“The
'Vaccinate, Educate, Graduate' vaccine incentive scholarship is a five-week
public outreach campaign, running through December 19, 2021, and consisting of
a series of statewide drawings to increase awareness of the availability and
efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and provide incentives to New Yorkers 5-11 years
of age to get a COVID-19 vaccine.”
The
full scholarship includes tuition, fees, room and board and expenses “to any
two-year or four-year New York State public college or university.”
The
governor made the announcement at the Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center
in Westchester. She didn't put a timeline on when vaccinated students could
take their masks off in school again – but said that the first step is getting
more of them vaccinated.
This
week, governors in neighboring New Jersey and Pennsylvania said masks in
schools could come off as early as January.
A
total of 75% of all New Yorkers have received at least one COVID-19 shot so far
but the state is hoping more parents will get their kids aged 5-11 vaccinated
before the winter.
Hochul
said committing to a specific date is premature right now because there
could be a post-holiday surge in COVID-19 cases.
"I
can't ignore the history. I hope that is not the case. I just don't have enough
data right now to put a date on a decision, but that decision is
forthcoming."