2 SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Free COVID-19 antibody testing coming to Woodhaven
BY KAYLA WONG
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
With COVID-19 still a threat,
state Senator Joseph P. Addabbo,
Jr. is once again partnering
with Valhalla Medics to bring a
free testing event to Woodhaven later
this month.
This event comes aft er two successful
COVID-19 antibody testing events
near the Rockaways earlier in the year.
The event will take place on Friday,
Sept. 24, outside of the Woodhaven
Business Improvement District’s (BID)
offi ce, located at 89-07 Jamaica Ave.,
from noon to 2 p.m.
“These events have become incredibly
popular since I started partnering
with Valhalla Medics to bring the free
testing to the communities,” Addabbo
said. “We had over 100 people come out
to test their COVID antibodies back in
July. It’s important to get the antibody
testing done so you can make sure that
your COVID vaccine is providing your
body with the protection it needs to
fi ght off the virus or that an individual
has the antibodies to further protect
themselves from the pandemic.”
The vaccination rates vary across
Queens, ranging from about 46.5 percent
in Far Rockaway to more than 99
percent in Jamaica.
The test that will be administered
is a rapid IgG/IgM antibody test,
which is just a painless fi nger prick
to draw a small bead of blood used for
processing. Aft er about a 10-minute
wait, patients are given a form with
a write-up of their results signed by
the technician who performed the test.
These IgG/IgM tests can detect and
diff erentiate between the presence of
the short-term (IgM) and the long-term
(IgG) antibodies.
A positive IgM test can indicate
you have recently been vaccinated
and your immune system has started
responding to the vaccination, while
a positive IgG test may mean you have
long-term antibodies to help prevent
re-infection.
It is important to get an antibody
test, even aft er being vaccinated, for
a number of reasons: It can show antibodies
from the COVID-19 vaccine;
it can show antibodies to determine if
you had the virus in the past; or it can
show a current infection of COVID-19.
Data has shown that even if an individual
is vaccinated, there is a small
chance that they can still contract
COVID-19 and spread it to others.
No insurance is necessary to take
part in the testing event. Walk-ups
are welcomed, but it is recommended
to register by calling Addabbo’s offi ce
at 718-738-1111 to secure a spot.
If community members need another
incentive, Valhalla Medics will be
providing free giveaways for all those
who come to get the free antibody test.
“I would like to thank Valhalla Medics
and their team for their continued
partnership on these community
events,” Addabbo added. “And I want
to give a big thanks to the Woodhaven
BID for joining with us. I hope to see
many people come out to the Woodhaven
BID to get tested as well.”
Photo via Getty Images
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