Photo Courtesy of Kevin Coughlin/Office of the Governor
“If we are to truly be successful in winning this war once and for all, we need to make sure shots are going into arms everywhere, regardless of race, background or income, and these sites are critical components of that effort,” Gov. Cuomo said.
By Forum Staff
Governor Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday encouraged eligible New Yorkers in Queens and Brooklyn to schedule an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the two State-FEMA community-based vaccination sites scheduled to open on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at York and Medgar Evers colleges.
The Queens and Brooklyn sites will operate between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily and each site has the capacity to administer 3,000 doses per day. As part of the administration’s effort to further expand access to these sites, the MTA is launching a pilot program to enhance bus service in Queens and Brooklyn to connect New Yorkers in these boroughs to the two vaccination sites. New York is also partnering with faith leaders in both boroughs to launch a vaccination drive aimed at encouraging more members of each communities to sign up for vaccination appointments at these sites using phone banking.
Eligible New Yorkers can currently schedule appointments for the Brooklyn and Queens sites by utilizing New York’s ‘Am I Eligible’ website or by calling the state’s COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline at 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829). Appointments can also be made by visiting the sites beginning when they open on Wednesday. For the first week of scheduling, appointments at these two sites are initially reserved specifically for New Yorkers currently eligible for vaccination living in areas with low vaccination rates in counties and boroughs. After one week, appointments at each site will then be made available to all eligible residents of the site’s host borough.
“The State is committed to vaccinating all New Yorkers, and that means making a concerted effort to reach those communities which have been underserved by the traditional health care system,” Cuomo said. “If we are to truly be successful in winning this war once and for all, we need to make sure shots are going into arms everywhere, regardless of race, background or income, and these sites are critical components of that effort. I encourage all eligible New Yorkers in Brooklyn and Queens to make appointments as soon as they are able to, and I want to personally assure them that the vaccine is safe and effective.”
While COVID-19 has had a damaging impact on the nation writ large, poor communities and communities of color have been particularly devastated by this virus, with Black and Latino people dying at a higher rate than white people, Cuomo noted. Since the beginning of the vaccine distribution process, another concerning trend has emerged – hesitancy towards the vaccine, especially in the Black community.
Site locations and eligible zip codes are as follows:
Queens: York College
160-02 Liberty Ave.
Jamaica, NY 11451
Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. beginning Feb. 24
Eligible Zip Codes: 11418, 11419, 11420, 11435, 11436, 11439, 11432, 11433, 11434, 11423, 11412, 11413, 11427, 11428, 11429, 11411, 11422, 11691, 11692, 11693
Brooklyn: Medgar Evers College
231 Crown St.
Brooklyn, NY 11225
Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. beginning Feb. 24
Eligible Zip Codes: 11206, 11221, 11216, 11238, 11225, 11213, 11233, 11207, 11208, 11236, 11212, 11203, 11226, 11210
