Roosevelt Island Disabled Association President Says Local Seniors And Disabled Residents Need Covid 19 Vaccination Site On Island - Is Anybody Listening?

Mayor Bill deBlasio announced today that Covid-19 vaccinations are available for all New Yorkers age 65 and older.

New Yorkers age 65 or older are now eligible for the #COVID19 vaccine! To learn more or to find out where to get vaccinated, visit https://t.co/CwLXzcCWDH.

To make an appointment at a Health Department or @NYCHealthSystem site, call 877-VAX4NYC. #NYCVaccineForAll pic.twitter.com/PO9fjsYCAd

— nychealthy (@nycHealthy) January 12, 2021

The #COVID19 vaccine MUST get to some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers — especially our senior citizens.

We’re launching a citywide outreach effort to ensure New Yorkers 65 and older can access the free, safe, and easy vaccine.
Hope is here. #NYCVaccineForAll pic.twitter.com/Sk6yc9hojb

— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) January 12, 2021

According to the NYC Vaccine Finder web site:

The Vaccine Finder is a one-stop site for New Yorkers to find their nearest COVID-19 vaccination site. The Vaccine Finder can also provide New Yorkers with information to schedule vaccination appointments. 

To get started, type in an address, zip code or search “near me” to find a list of nearby provider locations, links and phone numbers you can use to schedule your appointment at each location....

But many Roosevelt Island elderly and disabled residents are not able to reach vaccination locations off the Island. 

Can't Resnick, or Duane Reade, or Foodtown, or one of the hospitals, be set up for this?

— Tavie (rhymes w/gravy) (@TheRealTavie) January 11, 2021

Today, Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) Vice President Nancy Brown asked for a Covid -19 Vaccination site to be placed on Roosevelt Island.

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Roosevelt Island NYC Council Member Ben Kallos and NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer have indicated support for a Roosevelt Island Covid-19 Vaccination site.

Agreed. Reaching out to @NYCHealthSystem now!

— Ben Kallos (@kallos) January 10, 2021

The residents of Roosevelt Island who have difficultly with travel deserve an accessible vaccination site.

I urge the City to open one up ASAP. https://t.co/ESkToWHxlK

— Scott M. Stringer (@NYCComptroller) January 11, 2021

As previously reported, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) announced a Covid-19 Test site will open in the former Roosevelt Island NY Public Library space later this month.

The vaccine is the weapon that will win the war on COVID-19 and we must move quickly & efficiently to get New Yorkers vaccinated as soon as eligible. Meanwhile, rapid testing will control the spread. RIOC is currently working to bring rapid testing to the RI community & beyond.

— RIOC NYS (@RIOCny) January 12, 2021

UPDATE 1/13 - Roosevelt Island's Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney wrote to Mayor deBlasio today supporting a Covid 19 vaccinaiton site on Roosevelt Island. Here's the letter:

Dear Mayor De Blasio: 

I write to thank you for your hard work in overseeing the coronavirus vaccination effort in New York City and ensuring that the process is efficient, comprehensive, and equitable. I urge you to further improve access for our elderly and disabled residents by adding a vaccination site on Roosevelt Island.  

As you are aware, there are approximately 11,500 New Yorkers living on Roosevelt Island, including a significant number of elderly and disabled residents. These constituents are part of the high-risk demographic for severe outcomes should they contract COVID-19, and they do not currently have access to a convenient vaccination site. The closest vaccination site to Roosevelt Island is in Vernon Boulevard, Queens - over a mile away from most of Roosevelt Island’s residential areas. Seniors and people with disabilities who travel to the nearest vaccination site in Queens must face the risk of exposure to COVID-19 through travel and disproportionate physical difficulties in getting to distant vaccination sites, necessitating a closer location.  

I believe that vaccine distribution should be easy, accessible, and free for all. For those reasons, I strongly encourage you to add a vaccination site on Roosevelt Island to service Roosevelt Island residents, including seniors and disabled populations, many of whom are veterans. Including a vaccination distribution site on Roosevelt Island is a vital step towards achieving this goal and to ensuring an equitable rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your leadership in New York City’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.