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.