Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that the City will open vaccination clinics in NYCHA developments, providing on-site vaccinations for residents 65 or older. Clinics will open at the Van Dyke I & II Houses in Brooklyn, Cassidy Lafayette Houses in Staten Island, and Polo Grounds Towers in Manhattan this coming weekend, with plans to move to different sites across the city in the coming weeks.
“Equity is the driving force of our vaccine plan, and doses must go directly to those who need them most,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “That is why we are meeting our most vulnerable where they are, providing vaccines to our NYCHA seniors right in their own communities.”
To reach New Yorkers over the age of 65, the City continues to broaden its outreach to seniors through its agency partners and trusted community voices. With a comprehensive outreach campaign spearheaded by the Vaccine Planning Group for Older New Yorkers, the City is partnering with local organizations to get the word out about accessible and safe vaccinations in New York City for seniors, knocking on doors, placing direct calls and robocalls, holding virtual townhalls, partnering with local health providers and more.
“Ensuring our most vulnerable residents have convenient, trusted access to vaccination is paramount to New York City’s fair recovery,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been. “NYCHA’s on-site senior vaccination sites across the city are key to keeping all New Yorkers safe and healthy.”
“Our priority has been reaching older adults in communities of color and in communities most impacted by this pandemic. And with our partners at NYCHA and other sister agencies, we are doing just that,” said DFTA Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez. “Older adults trust their senior centers and the dedicated staff at the senior centers within these NYCHA developments will be reaching out to older NYCHA residents 65+ to ensure they get vaccinated and have the assistance they need to do so.”
“Ensuring the health and safety of NYCHA residents, particularly our seniors who are among our most vulnerable New Yorkers, is our chief priority,” said NYCHA Chairman & CEO Gregory Russ. “By making the CoViD-19 vaccine available to 65+ residents at specific NYCHA community and senior centers, we can ensure that residents in underserved neighborhoods have access to this life-saving resource. NYCHA remains committed to working with our City partners and continuing to connect our residents to food and crucial health and social services throughout the pandemic.”
“Throughout the pandemic, we have seen our city’s deep inequities up close. I am pleased that the City is prioritizing NYCHA residents as part of its initial wave of vaccine rollouts and I encourage everyone eligible to take this free, safe and effective vaccine. Only by defeating this virus can we begin the hard work of rebuilding a more equitable New York,” said State Senator Zellnor Myrie.
“Throughout the pandemic, older adults have not only experienced the greatest disruptions to their daily routines and access to care but have succumbed to the illness in unthinkable numbers. Bringing the vaccine distribution effort directly to our seniors will help to alleviate the technology, transportation, and safety barriers they face when seeking a vaccination appointment at community hubs. I thank the city administration for prioritizing our most vulnerable residents who are eager to receive the vaccine. Accessible and safe vaccination efforts are critical to getting all Staten Islanders vaccinated quickly and equitably,” said Assemblyman Charles D. Fall.
“During these unprecedented times, many of our residents have been interested in additional information and resources on how to properly protect themselves against CoViD-19,” said Van Dyke Houses Resident Association President Lisa Kenner. “Establishing Van Dyke Houses as a community hub for outreach, education, and safe vaccinations gives our seniors and their families tremendous hope and we are grateful to NYCHA, DFTA, and the City of New York for making this vaccination site a reality.”
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