FEMA will establish four additional community-based vaccination sites in Buffalo, Rochester, Albany and Yonkers, according to Governor Cuomo this morning, including the Washington Avenue Armory.
These four major vaccination sites outside of New York City will vaccinate approximately 1,000 New Yorkers each day beginning the first week of March, and appointments will be initially reserved for members of the community in which the sites are located. These establishment of these sites follows the announcement Governor Cuomo made on Wednesday, February 10 when he joined with White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeffrey Zients and White House COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Chair Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith to announce similar sites at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn and York College in Queens.
These sites were selected in partnership with FEMA and the CDC, focused on improving vaccine access in socially vulnerable communities. The sites will target communities and populations historically underserved by the traditional health care system that were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. By increasing vaccine access in communities where vaccine hesitancy and vaccination rates are lower than other parts of the state, these sites will build on the focus of New York State and the Biden Administration to vaccinate as many people as possible fairly and equitably by creating vaccination venues in settings that people trust through partnerships with community leaders and organizations.
“From day one New York has prioritized equitable vaccination access with aggressive efforts targeted at reaching communities that were hit the hardest by COVID,” Governor Cuomo said. “We’re putting four new vaccination sites in socially vulnerable communities outside of New York City where we’ve seen higher positivity rates and lower vaccination rates. These sites will operate with extended hours – each administering 1,000 doses of the vaccine every day – and there is no doubt that they will be the most effective way to get the vaccine out as quickly and as fairly as possible in the communities that need it most and bring us one step closer to winning the war against COVID.”
“The Washington Avenue Armory is proud to be part of this historic effort to vaccinate New York State from COVID-19. With our legacy as a former New York National Guard armory, the Armory is ready to serve the Empire State in its time of need. The Armory’s location right in Downtown Albany is accessible by public transit and walkable from many of Albany’s neighborhoods, making for an ideal central location for socially vulnerable communities as noted by Governor Cuomo. Thanks to both his administration and the federal government for their partnership in hosting this important public health mission at the Armory,” said the Armory in a statement.
“As more New Yorkers become eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and schedule their appointments, opening more vaccination sites that are easily accessible to the public is key to getting as many shots into arms as possible. Given the high demand just in the Capital Region and throughout all of New York State, news that the Washington Avenue Armory will serve a mass vaccination site is readily welcomed. I commend Governor Cuomo, FEMA, and the Biden Administration for their partnership in opening this new site, and for ensuring that communities of color in particular aren’t left behind in New York’s vaccine rollout,” Assemblymember Patricia Fahy said.
Assembly Member John T. McDonald III said, “Vaccinating New Yorkers is critical to protecting the public and putting a stop to the spread of COVID-19. I am encouraged by the efforts of New York State and Governor Cuomo to ensure that social and economic injustices do not impede these efforts. Black, Latino, Asian and poor communities saw much higher rates of infection and suffered the loss of more loved ones. These new sites provide the COVID vaccine to the communities that were hurt the most, bringing hope and a brighter future for all.”
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, “Our main priority continues to be bringing vaccines to our historically underserved residents, and this effort at the gateway of the Sheridan Hollow, Downtown Albany, and West Hill neighborhoods provides the opportunity to better serve their needs. Thank you to President Biden and Governor Cuomo for equitably bringing thousands more vaccines to our residents.”
Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy said, “This is a game changer in our continuing efforts to get members of our underserved communities vaccinated against the virus. Thank you, President Biden and Governor Cuomo for listening to us when we said that we were partnering to bring more shots to our black and brown communities and we needed a larger supply of vaccine. Our partnership to bring mobile vaccinations to vulnerable communities has been successful and we will continue our outreach to community stakeholders. By siting a community-based mass-vaccination in the heart of downtown Albany, we will be able to accomplish equity and be able to get more shots into arms even faster.”
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “This new COVID-19 vaccination site at the Armory in Southwest Yonkers, supported by FEMA and managed by New York State, is a significant step for our community that I have been strongly advocating for. It will ensure a more equitable local vaccination strategy by providing only verified Yonkers and Mt. Vernon residents with vaccinations at an impressive 1,000 vaccinations a day capacity. I thank our local, state and federal partners for their efforts to help make this happen.”
Senator Neil Breslin said, “I commend Governor Cuomo and the Biden Administration for establishing four additional community-based mass vaccination sites across New York. The vaccination site at the Albany Armory will provide vaccine access to the heart of the city by distributing 1,000 vaccines a day and bringing us closer to the end of the pandemic.”
