EDITORIAL
VACCINE CONFUSION
They came to Citi Field hoping to get the “shot
of life,” the COVID-19 vaccine, to protect them
from potential suffering and death.
But not everyone who arrived at the home
of the New York Mets on the morning of Feb. 10 —
opening day for the vaccination hub — got the protection
for which they longed. Apparently, they had
been victims of some bad information.
For whatever reason, a number of people rejected
for a shot at Citi Field thought that merely showing
up would be enough. Not so. The Citi Field vaccine
site, reserved mostly for Queens residents and
essential workers across the city, required that a
prior appointment be made through the city’s online
vaccine hub.
It’s hard to say exactly how so many became confused.
But it seems symptomatic of mixed or inadequate
messaging from the city that dozens of people
had come to the vaccine site without getting the
proper appointment, and ultimately being turned
away.
It may also offer some insight as to the vaccine
disparity in New York City — the very thing Mayor
Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo didn’t
want to happen, and are now scrambling to remedy.
And again, the disparity and the confusion
should never have materialized to such an extent.
Not when all the major players involved had months
to put the infrastructure in place for a relatively
smooth vaccine rollout.
Citi Field itself, billed as a mass vaccination hub,
is ramping up slowly, with only a few hundred appointments
available at the start, and open only 5
days a week, until the city receives more supply.
We get that the vaccine supply doesn’t nearly
meet the present demand. That’s not likely to change
until a third version of the vaccine, likely Johnson &
Johnson’s one-dose shot, gets federal approval.
The city must do a far better job directing people,
in the meantime, toward getting appointments.
All we can tell you, dear reader, is how to get a
vaccine appointment now — and to help those you
care about get their appointments, too.
Seek out an appointment through the online city
or state vaccine hubs. Follow the directions and
answer all the questions. Print out your vaccine appointment
ticket and get the confirmation number.
If you can’t access the site or are confused, please
seek help from someone you know.
HOW TO REACH US
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.12 COM | FEB. 19-FEB. 25, 2021
REMEMBER THAT LOVE IS THE ANSWER!
Love is the answer for all of
us to fight racism.
That being said, February
is Black History
Month. Its origin can be traced
to 1926, when historian Carter
G. Woodson and others decided
to make February Black History
Month to honor African
Americans.
In 1976 President Ford said
this celebration helped to,
“seize the opportunity to honor
neglected accomplishments of
Black Americans.” Well, I fully
agree. We are one nation under
God and that means respect for
all races. These are just words
that I know only too well.
I have, as a teenager in the
1960s, been involved with civil
rights to a limited extent. I’m 71
years old now and have worked
on a total of three plumbing supply
companies on Long Island in
the last 50 years. I was one of the
few white employees and have
worked along side with quite
a few fine African-Americans
who treated me with respect, as
I did likewise.
I have made it my mission in
the last few years to offer a hello
or a kind word to others of different
races and those of different
countries of origin. I hope
those I have spoken with felt I
was trying to extend kindness,
love and even a helping hand.
Maybe, we should all try and do
the same.
Racism must end, and that
can only happen with acts of
kindness to our brothers and
sisters who are of other races.
Americans can finally be unified
and opposed to racism as
one, but it takes work.
Our creator put us here to
love one another. Unfortunately
there are some who have not yet
gotten the message.
Finally, remember that love
is the answer.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.,
Bellerose
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Elba Marchena argues to gain entry to Citi Field on the first day of vaccinations on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021.
Photo by Dean Moses
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