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State To Close Mass Vaccination Site in Queens While Running Pop-Up Sites For Early Voters
By
Sophia Chang
Published Jun 19, 2021
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Don Pollard/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
By
Sophia Chang
Published Jun 19, 2021
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The state is beginning to shut some mass COVID-19 vaccination sites, including one at York College in Jamaica, while also running five pop-up sites at early voting polls in New York City for Saturday only.
"Our network of mass vaccination sites administered the biggest throughput of vaccinations in a short period of time, and thanks to their success we hit the milestones we needed to hit to get back to life as we know it," Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a release Friday. "Our statewide progress has been remarkable, but we still need to get more shots into people's arms, particularly in areas that are still lagging on vaccinations."
Cuomo said the state will scale back the number of sites so it can re-allocate its resources in neighborhoods where vaccination rates are still low.
The sites, which also include the mass clinics in upstate New York cities that include Corning, Oneonta and Potsdam, will close Monday, June 21st. The state chose these sites for downscaling “based on demand, proximity to other vaccination sites, and other locally focused efforts,” Cuomo’s office said in the release. At its peak, the site at York College was capable of vaccinating 3,000 people a day.
On Monday, Cuomo celebrated the state reaching a 70% vaccination of the adult population threshold, though that number only accounts for people receiving one dose, and New York City was at 65.7% Saturday. Nevertheless, the state lifted most COVID-19 restrictions and businesses may decide whether to follow that guidance.
The pop-up vaccination sites at nine early voting locations were planned to run only on Saturday, in target ZIP codes with vaccination rates below the state average.
"We remain laser-focused on making the vaccine accessible in every community, and will go wherever New Yorkers go in order to reach them," Cuomo said. "We know some areas are still lagging in getting people vaccinated, and these new pop-up sites at early voting locations will allow New Yorkers to perform two civic duties at once - casting their ballot and rolling up their sleeve."
In New York City, the pop-up vaccination sites will serve walk-in appointments and are located at:
Manhattan
Columbia University Irving Medical Center Russ Berrie Medical Science Pavilion
1150 St. Nicholas Avenue
Brooklyn
SUNY Downstate Medical Center
450 Clarkson Avenue
Bronx
Claremont Neighborhood Center
489 East 169th Street
Queens
Rochdale Village Community Center
169-65 137th Avenue
Staten Island
Gerard Carter Center
230 Broad Street
Read More: Over 20,000 Vaccinated At MTA Pop-Up Sites
"New Yorkers are getting a new lease on life as we defeat this pandemic and reopen our state's economy for the future," Cuomo said in a release.
On Friday, the statewide seven-day rolling average COVID-19 positivity rate was at 0.39%, Cuomo announced Saturday, calling it a record low for the 22nd consecutive day.
There were 532 patients hospitalized, and of those 126 patients were in intensive care units. Of those in ICUs, 73 patients were intubated.
Nine people died from COVID-19 Friday, including four people in Brooklyn and one person in Manhattan.
Tagged
COVID-19
york college
coronavirus
fema
gov andrew cuomo
Sophia Chang
Sophia Chang is a former WNYC and Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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