Healthcare in New York

Public hospitals in New York

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2023: U.S. begins installing "drug addicts" with anti-overdose drugs

On June 5, 2023, New York authorities announced the installation of the city's first street vending machine designed to reduce the death rate from drug overdoses.

It is noted that overdose deaths in New York have reached historically high levels. In 2021, for this reason, 2668 deaths were recorded in the metropolis against 2103 cases in 2020. Statistics also suggest that 84% of overdose deaths were opioid-related in 2021. And fentanyl, a potent opioid, caused 80% of all overdose deaths.

In America, began to establish "drug addicts" with drugs against overdose

New York's first "drug addict" is on Broadway in Brooklyn. The device can provide free naloxone (used as an antidote for opioid overdoses), test strips for determining the type of narcotic substance, safe sex kits, hygiene products, smoking kits, nicotine chewing gums and some other products. In the future, the range is planned to be expanded: in particular, disposable syringes may be included in it, which will help prevent the spread of infections. In order to get a particular product, it is enough to enter a postal code.

The cost of the "People's Commissariat" itself is approximately $11 thousand. In the future, several more such devices will appear in New York - they will be installed in places of the largest concentration of drug addicts. However, some residents of the metropolis and public figures criticize such an initiative. In their opinion, the money should be spent on rehabilitation and social services in order to really help drug addicted citizens, and not on the distribution of products that help them use prohibited substances.^[1]

2021: Introduction of the expired Pfizer vaccine to hundreds of New Yorkers

In mid-June 2021, it became known that hundreds of residents New York were introduced overdue. coronavirus vaccine Pfizer health care The New York department confirmed that 899 people received expired doses at the Times Square vaccination facility where the NFL Experience used to be held. Officials say they have notified all participants to be re-vaccinated.

A spokesperson for ATC Vaccination Services released a statement explaining that the ATC vaccination service is part of a large group of vaccine distributors working in partnership with the New York City Department of Health to distribute the vaccine. ATC Vaccination Services apologized for the inconvenience to those who received an expired batch of the vaccine and said the administered drug posed no risk. After consulting with Pfizer, the New York City Department of Health sent out emails inviting people who received the expired vaccine to return for re-vaccination.

Hundreds of New Yorkers injected with expired Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19

The only way to make sure patients have been vaccinated is to get another shot. The former vaccine was stored in the freezer for too long, so it is impossible to expect full effectiveness from it. We encourage affected patients to receive a new dose of Pfizer vaccine at any vaccination point.

Health officials say administering an expired vaccine does not pose a risk to patients. They also reported that New York replaced the vaccine provider to avoid new problems. According to the Centers for Disease Prevention in the United States, 70% of New York adults have already received at least one dose of COVID vaccine. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said most restrictions in New York are likely to be lifted in the summer.^[2]

2020

The problem of obesity has become the main factor in the hospitalization of patients with COVID-19 in New York

In mid-April 2020, researchers found that obesity, along with age, was the main factor in hospitalization of patients with COVID-19. This may indicate the role of excess inflammatory responses that are activated in the body in this disease.

Doctors at Langone Medical Center in New York conducted the largest study of hospitalization for COVID-19. Christopher M. Petrilli of NYS Grossman School and colleagues published the results of their study in the article "Factors associated with hospitalization and critical condition in 4,103 patients with COVID-19 in New York," which was posted on April 11 on the medRxiv preprint server. This article has not yet been reviewed, which should be considered when considering its findings.

Obesity, along with age, was a major factor in hospitalisation of COVID-19 patients, researchers found

Nevertheless, the authors convincingly talk about the role of obesity as the main, after age, risk factor for hospitalization in COVID-19. Among other things, the presence of obesity in risk factors indicates a potentially important role for increased inflammation in these patients. In addition, the identification of risk factors will allow more competent medical treatment and predict the needs of patients, the authors of the article note.

For statistical analysis, the researchers used a "decision tree," that is, a way to group sample members based on their overall characteristics. In the decision tree for hospitalization of patients with COVID-19, the initial determining factor at the top of the tree is age over 65, and obesity immediately follows.

The authors remind that age is still the main determinant of hospitalization in COVID-19.

Age is undoubtedly a major risk factor that negates the significance of obesity in the primary assessment, "explained one of the researchers. - Obesity, however, is the most important of patients "chronic conditions while considering all such conditions.[3]

New York pays 15 times the normal cost for medical equipment

In early April 2020, it became known that New York State is forced to pay 15 times the usual cost for medical equipment and consumables. A shortage of medicines forced New York to enter into bidding with other states for ventilators and personal protective equipment, which led to price gouging.

This is similar to participating in an eBay auction with 50 other states claiming a ventilator, "one of the health organizers explained to reporters at a press conference. —What's the point?

New York State Forced to Pay 15 Times Normal Cost for Medical Equipment and Supplies

Price increases are not generally considered a crime in most states, but not in a state of emergency. However, most laws relating to PE relate only to the sale of consumer goods and services, and not to orders from state health systems or private medical organizations.

Proving to be the epicenter of the spread of the coronavirus, New York State allowed the purchase of consumables from everyone in a row, and not just from approved suppliers, which allowed sellers to charge any price. Therefore, now the state pays $7.50 for a protective mask, that is, about 15 times higher than the usual price.

At the same time, large national distributors are hesitant to release large orders of medical equipment to the states with the most cases of coronavirus, fearing accusations of favoritism or collusion. Many sell their goods to customers on "distribution" or on the basis of previous transactions.

Distributors are urging the federal government to adjust appropriations based on needs, and several cities have even sent a letter to the federal government asking for the distribution of needed medical material. Federal or state laws have proved powerless in a situation where state governments at all levels compete with each other for the same goods.^[4]

Refrigerators are installed on the streets of New York for the corpses of those who died from coronavirus

At the end of March 2020, mobile morgues began to appear on the streets of New York - refrigerated trucks designed to remove the bodies of those who died from. coronavirus COVID-19 The city authorities began to take additional measures to combat the pandemic amid a growing number of deaths.

As of March 27, 2020, about 22 thousand cases of infection with a new type of coronavirus were registered in New York, 281 people died. In total, more than 80 thousand cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed in the United States, the death toll exceeded 1.1 thousand people.

Mobile morgues began to appear on the streets of New York - refrigerated trucks designed to export those who died from the coronavirus COVID-19

Trucks with large refrigerators will take out corpses if morgues cannot cope with those who died from the coronavirus. Also in New York, they began to place tents for storing the bodies of those who died from COVID-19. In total, tents and trucks can accommodate 3,500-3,600 corpses.

We are experiencing a health crisis, the city has declared a state of emergency, "said New York official Aja Vorsi-Davis.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it received a request from New York and other states for help with morgues. Hawaii and North Carolina made similar requests.

The last time such trucks were used in New York was after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, when the city's forensic service was instructed to identify tens of thousands of body parts belonging to 2,753 people who died in a plane collision with the World Trade Center.

According to CNN, citing New York authorities, according to officials, the city has long-standing contracts with companies for the supply of refrigerated trucks, but they have ceased to operate. These trucks are likely to be placed in various locations, including near temporary hospitals.^[5]

1957

Ziegfeld Follies Showgirls line up in Ziegfeld Theatre locker room to get Salk polio vaccine shot

Their costumes made this process easy for the doctor. Girls, left to right: Denise Colletts, Gloria Christy, Charlotte Foley, and Nancy Westbrook. New York, March 27, 1957.]]

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