Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced today that the state will partner with local health departments to include vaccination sites for the population over 65 across New York State. These locations will be partnered with local health departments and, when necessary, provide assistance to New Yorkers with transportation to and from vaccination facilities and special support for vaccination-related paperwork. As New York state vaccine allocations increase, these more than 65 facilities and appointments will be enabled from additional federal government supplies. Counties across New York state will receive a larger supply of the Modern vaccine for this purpose starting next week.
“New York is getting more and more needles in arms every day, with a focus on vaccinating our most vulnerable residents.” Governor Cuomo said. “We know that our senior New Yorkers are most at risk with COVID, and it is critical that we provide them with access to the vaccine directly in their own communities, as well as the assistance they need to schedule and return to and from their appointments. . By working together with our local health departments to establish these locations, we will help ensure that the process of receiving a vaccine is as simple as possible for our population over 65 and we will approach our goal of social equality and justice for all. through the distribution of the vaccine. “
New York has been working to implement a series of improvements to the hotline to further improve the scheduling process and experience for seniors, a specific line for New Yorkers over 75, providing direct access to staff that can help with scheduling or answer questions.
Details about the sites, including locations, opening dates and hours of operations, will be provided by the host or sponsor of the site. As a reminder, eligible New Yorkers can schedule appointments at the state’s mass vaccination sites using the New York ‘I’m eligible’ website or by calling the state’s COVID-19 vaccination hotline at 1-833-NYS -4-VAX (1- 833-697-4829). New York has been working to implement a series of improvements on the hotline to further improve the scheduling process and experience for seniors, a specific line for New Yorkers over 75, providing direct access to staff that can help with scheduling or answer questions.
In late 2020, the governor announced the launch of the New York Vaccine Equity Task Force, chaired by Secretary of State Rossana Rosado, National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial, and Healthfirst President and CEO Pat Wang. Since its establishment, the Task Force has continued to work to ensure that vulnerable and underserved communities are not left behind, breaking barriers to vaccination and ensuring that there is an equitable distribution of the vaccine across the state.
In addition, New York has established more than 104 temporary community-based pop-up vaccination sites in churches, community centers and public housing complexes directly within communities across the state that were not served by traditional health care systems. Since January 15, these sites have allowed approximately 45,000 New Yorkers to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on these community-based pop-up sites. After administration of the first doses, the sites are then restored three weeks later to administer the second doses.
New York will continue to establish these pop-up sites until they are placed in all 33 NYCHA senior housing developments, which are home to more than 7,600 seniors. Pop-up locations will also continue to be established in other public housing developments across the state, as well as in more than 300 churches and cultural centers that have offered to host these locations through Governor Cuomo’s Vaccine Equity Task Force.