Bill de Blasio says no one in New York will be able to jump the line for Covid vaccine

Mayor says health leaders to decide when elected officials will get the shots

Bill de Blasio says no one in New York will be able to “jump the line” to get the Covid vaccine.

The city’s mayor warned that people of “privilege” will not get vaccinated ahead of priority groups, such as health care workers and first responders.

“Their time will come," said Mr de Blasio.

"We've got to protect those who serve us and those who are most vulnerable, and we will enforce that rigorously.”

The Food and Drug Administration’s independent advisory committee is meeting on Thursday to discuss Pfizer’s application for emergency use authorisation for its vaccine.

If it is approved the vaccine could be rolled out across the country as soon as next week.

Mr de Blasio also said that the city’s health care leaders would decide when politicians such as himself would get the vaccine.

“The doctors will decide when it's our time," said the mayor.

“Important thing is to work through each category of people but move it fast and then go on to the next priority category.”

An estimated 15.2 million Americans have contracted the virus during the pandemic and more than 286,000 have been killed.

The United Kingdom became the first country to administer clinically approved vaccines to patients on Tuesday.

The US remains an epicenter for the virus with four per cent of the world’s population but 19 per cent of coronavirus deaths.

President-elect Joe Biden says he will introduce a 100 day mask mandate when he takes office.

Health experts say that by April most Americans will be able to walk in to a pharmacy and get vaccinated and everyone who wants the shot will have it by the summer.