Gov. Andrew Cuomo has criticized the slowness of the federal nursing home vaccination program - and now the race is on to vaccinate most nursing home residents by the end of the week.

Less than half of nursing homes statewide have given their residents the first COVID-19 vaccination. The state is now pressuring them to speed it up.

The federal government was originally in charge of nursing home vaccinations, but New York is taking over and hoping to have 85% of facilities statewide give out their first dose by the end of the week and all of them within two.

"That has not moved as quickly as we would like to see it move. The state is now going to step in and expedite that program," said Cuomo.

Andrus on Hudson in Hastings is among the senior communities ahead of the curve. A total of 90% of its residents are already vaccinated and are on track to get a second dose next week.

Andrus has used three-quarters of the 400 initial doses it requested for staff and patients. The rest are getting redistributed to other facilities in need.

Andrus on Hudson is still working through the federal program but says the state and county are checking in often to make sure the process is going smoothly.