With three vaccines in distribution and the American Rescue Plan on the books, there is light at the end of the tunnel. 

More vaccines means more herd immunity and less devastating effects to those who contract the virus. But getting everyone vaccinated is still a challenge.

Dr. Syra Madad is the Sr. Director of the System-wide Pathogens Program at New York City Health + Hospitals. 

She was a guest on In Focus weeks before the first COVID case was diagnosed in the city, warning New Yorkers of the devastation that lay ahead.  She joined In Focus this time to talk about what could be the beginning of the end of what she calls "the darkest period of the pandemic."

Dr. Madad urged all New Yorkers to get vaccinated as soon as their turn comes, detailing why it doesn't matter what vaccine is on offer, everyone should just get the jab. 

And she also addressed the reasons why the vaccine rollout has been hampered, from a lack of planning to inequities in distribution and vaccine hesitancy. 

But she also advises all New Yorkers that, just because the vaccine is more widely available, no one should stop being safe, masking, washing hands and maintaining social distances.  She talked about why she does see that light becoming brighter, with millions of vaccine doses available, and a government that, as she says, that is following the science the evidence.