Seniors need more accessible vaccine
sites, northeast Queens electeds say
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Six northeast Queens lawmakers
are expressing their concerns in a
letter sent to Mayor Bill de Blasio on
Tuesday, Jan. 12, regarding the difficulty
seniors are having making
appointments due to the lack of vaccination
sites and support in locating
them in the districts.
Senator John Liu, Assembly members
Nily Rozic and Ed Braunstein,
and Council members Barry Grodenchik,
Paul Vallone and Peter Koo
are urging de Blasio to coordinate
with them as soon as possible to identify
potential locations in northeast
Queens.
“As of today, there are no sites east
of Union Street, Flushing or north of
82nd Road in Jamaica. This absence
of vaccination sites makes it exponentially
burdensome for high-risk
seniors in our districts,” the lawmakers
said in a letter. “Our constituents
in northeast Queens need a vaccination
site that is more accessible to
them than what is currently being
offered.”
As it stands with phases 1A and
1B underway, vulnerable populations
are struggling to find available appointments
TIMESLEDGER | Q 4 NS.COM | JAN. 22-JAN. 28, 2021
to receive the first dose of
the vaccine, according to the lawmakers.
Now that eligibility has opened
allowing seniors aged 65+ to schedule
appointments, seniors aged 75+ have
only been given one day of priority access
to a system that is severely overwhelmed.
“The current process has already
proven difficult for many of our
neighbors and we do not want these
New Yorkers left behind,” the lawmakers
said.
Although the city is opening a
24/7 vaccination hub at the Citi Field
stadium, located at 41 Seaver Way in
Flushing, the lawmakers said, “It is
not within reach for most seniors,
especially when travel options to the
stadium are limited during the pandemic.”
The lawmakers said they’re ready
and willing to work together with the
mayor to identify locations that can
serve as vaccination sites.
“While we understand that vaccine
supply is limited and more locations
are slated to open in the coming
weeks, it is critical that we get sites
up and running to ensure ease of access
as the vaccination rollout continues,”
the lawmakers said.
Reach reporter Carlotta Mohamed
by e-mail at cmohamed@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718) 260–4526.
Victoria Jones/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
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