Queens lawmaker to bring COVID-19  
 antibody testing event to Forest Hills 
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 TIMESLEDGER   |   QNS.COM   |   DEC. 10 - DEC. 16, 2021 21  
 aways  for  all  those who  
 come  down  to  get  the  
 free antibody test.  
 No  insurance  is  
 necessary  to  take  part  
 in  the  testing  event.  
 Anyone  who  wishes  to  
 participate  in  the  event  
 and  get  their  free  rapid  
 antibody  test  is  urged  
 to  register  by  calling  
 Addabbo’s  office  at  718- 
 738-1111 to secure a spot.  
 Walk-ups  will  also  be  
 welcomed.  
 Reach  reporter  Carlotta  
 Mohamed  by  
 e-mail  at  cmohamed@ 
 schnepsmedia.com  or  by  
 phone at (718) 260–4526. 
 BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED 
 After  several  successful  
 events this year,  
 Senator  Joseph  Addabbo  
 Jr.  is  hosting  a  free  
 COVID-19 antibody testing  
 event in Forest Hills  
 on Sunday, Dec. 19.  
 A  team  from Valhalla  
 Medics will be at  the  
 Bukharian Jewish Community  
 Center,  located  
 at 106-16 70th Ave., from  
 noon to 2 p.m. to provide  
 free  COVID-19  antibody  
 tests to the community.  
 “I  have  been  trying  
 to  bring  Valhalla  Medics  
 into  the  different  
 communities within my  
 district, and I am happy  
 to  be  able  to  come  to  
 Forest Hills next month  
 with  this  fantastic,  free  
 event,”  said  Addabbo,  
 who  thanked  Valhalla  
 Medics  for  their  continued  
 partnership, as well  
 as  the  Bukharian  Jewish  
 Community  Center  
 for  opening  up  their  
 space for the event.  
 During  Addabbo’s  
 last  event  held  in  Belle  
 Harbor,  about  70  people  
 were tested, he said.  
 The test that will be  
 given  is  a  rapid  IgG/ 
 IgM  antibody  test,  
 which  is  done  using  a  
 nearly  painless  finger  
 prick  to  draw  a  small  
 bead  of  blood  that  
 is  transferred  for  
 processing.  
 After about a 10-minute  
 wait,  patients  are  
 given  a  form  with  a  
 write-up  of  their  results  
 that  is  signed  by  
 the  technician who performed  
 the  test.  These  
 IgG/IgM  tests  can  detect  
 and  differentiate  
 between  the  presence  
 of  the  short-term  (IgM)  
 and  the  long-term  (IgG)  
 antibodies.  
 According  to  Addabbo, 
   it’s  important  for  
 people  to  get  an  antibody  
 test, even after being  
 vaccinated.   
 A  test  can  show  antibodies  
 from  the  COVID 
 19  vaccine  and  it  
 can  determine  if  a  person  
 had the virus in the  
 past.  It  can  also  show  a  
 current infection of COVID 
 19.  While  data  has  
 shown that even if a person  
 is vaccinated,  there  
 is  a  small  chance  that  
 they  can  still  contract  
 the  virus  and  spread  it  
 to others.  
 Valhalla Medics will  
 be  providing  free  give- 
 Photo via Getty Images 
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