Loophole restricts NY essential workers who work outside of state from getting vaccine

Essential employees who live in the Hudson Valley but work outside the state are now being denied access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

News 12 Staff

Feb 4, 2021, 4:04 AM

Updated 1,341 days ago

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Essential employees who live in the Hudson Valley but work outside the state are now being denied access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
The issue stems from a loophole, where people who live in New York but work across the border in New Jersey are finding themselves ineligible for the shot in both states.
New York has been vaccinating teachers but only the ones who physically work in the state, while in New Jersey teachers aren't eligible yet.
State Sen. Elijah Reichlin-Melnick says he's getting dozens of similar calls.
"I'm very frustrated, it makes no sense. The vaccine does not know where the state line is," he says.
His new bill allows anyone whose job would entitle them to a vaccination in New York to get a shot regardless of the state they work in.
If nothing else, the state senator believes his legislation will bring attention to the issue in hopes the state will close the gap on its own.