‘We already have so much information’ - City doctor highlights keys to staying safe as COVID-19 vaccine emerges

News 12 spoke with one of the doctors appointed to the Vaccine Distribution and Implementation Task Force on what is important for New Yorkers to know to stay safe.

News 12 Staff

Nov 11, 2020, 3:56 AM

Updated 1,422 days ago

Share:

News 12 spoke with one of the doctors appointed to the Vaccine Distribution and Implementation Task Force on what is important for New Yorkers to know to stay safe.
The task force is composed of experts in public health, immunizations, government operations, data and other fields that Gov. Andrew Cuomo believes will be useful in getting a safe vaccine out to people all over the state to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Dr. Ramon Tallaj, SOMOS Community Care Chairman, is one of the local doctors appointed to the task force.
"We already have so much information regarding people. I mean close to 800,000 people have been tested; now we know who's positive, who is negative; we know everything including the blood test who still has the immunity because of what we did,” said Dr. Tallaj.
He says it's important to make sure New Yorkers know and understand that the vaccine can save their lives. Dr. Tallaj says he knows there will be bumps along the way.
"Certainly, there will be complications with side effects we have to work on, but right now it's the best chance we have to normalize our lives,” Dr. Tallaj.
As a member of the task force, he says he's confident he and the other appointees will work together to use their knowledge, data and expertise to keep New Yorkers as safe as possible.