Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday criticized Governor Andrew Cuomo’s plan to fine hospitals as a means to speed up the slow deployment of vaccines, much criticized.
“This is just arrogance,” de Blasio said in an interview with New York’s Errol Louis de Cuomo’s claims that monetary sanctions could speed up the process.
Hizzoner continued to defend the city’s health workers and told Cuomo to dismiss the threats.
“Do you think that our health professionals are not interested in vaccinating people? How about trusting the people who have been our heroes? “said Blasio.
“Help them, support them, don’t fine them, don’t threaten them, respect them and help them.”
Cuomo earlier on Monday blamed local leaders, including Blasio, for the state’s slow inoculation effort – which has seen large amounts of the vaccine supply unusable.
The governor also specifically argued that the health system and hospitals in the city of Big Apple have not had their weight.
De Blasio said Monday night that instead of issuing threats, the state should implement new rules to encourage faster vaccine delivery.
“We need rules that maximize the pace, that help us accelerate and reach the people available, that are a priority, and that are prepared, willing, and capable, it’s common sense,” the mayor said.
“Therefore, the state can help us here. Stop threatening people. ”
The state Department of Health on Sunday sent a letter establishing a position of use or loss, Cuomo said, requiring providers to use supplies that have so far been assigned until the weekend or face off. to fines of up to $ 100,000.
To advance, they must use all vaccines within seven days of receipt or face fines, and risk being removed from future shipments of the vaccine.
Public and private hospitals across the state have only used about 46 percent of the coronavirus vaccines that have been provided to them, according to statistics quoted by Cuomo on Monday.
Although New York’s Presbyterian health care system has led the way, with 99% of assigned vaccines administered, the city’s hospital and health network has used only 31%.
But De Blasio said Monday night that Cuomo’s analysis of city-run hospitals was “blatantly inaccurate, arguing that his supply of vaccines was inflated, as much of the inventory was only one day old.
“What he said about health and hospitals was simply blatantly inaccurate. Much of that delivery to health and hospitals came in the last 24 hours, they weren’t even in a position to turn it around and use it. I just got there, ”said the mayor.