Beginning Monday, Jan. 18, seniors aged 65 or older who are unable to make their own arrangements and need transportation to and from a COVID-19 vaccination appointment can sign up for transportation through the City, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sunday, Jan. 17.

 

“We are moving heaven and earth to get our senior neighbors vaccinated”, said de Blasio via a press release. “Now, seniors who need a ride to an appointment will get one, ensuring our vaccines go to those who need them most.”

 

In response to the announcement, Department for the Aging (DFTA) Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez thanked the network of senior centers and providers, who she said worked tirelessly during the pandemic providing critical services to thousands of older adults, and who are ready to mobilize transportation services and assist the seniors in getting to their vaccination appointments.

 

“I also would like to thank the City, the Vaccine Command Center, and partners for ensuring we never forget our commitment to older adults as New York is an age inclusive city,” she said.

 

City officials said that older New Yorkers aged 65 and over who make an appointment for a vaccine at a City-operated site will be asked whether they have a way to get to and from their appointment. If they require transportation, they will be screened and directed to transportation options, including Access-a-Ride, ambulette services, cab service via Curb and in a few weeks, transportation by select Senior Center programs.

 

City officials added that DFTA providers will be able to reach out and link seniors to transportation through phone outreach, ensuring that every senior knows the range of available options. In total, the City will offer approximately 10,000 rides per week.

 

To reach all those New Yorkers aged 65 and over, the City said it will broaden its outreach in partnership with nonprofit partners and trusted community leaders. With a comprehensive outreach campaign that will be led by the City’s Vaccine Planning Workgroup for Older New Yorkers, the City will be partnering with local organizations to get the word out about safe and accessible vaccinations – knocking on doors, placing direct calls and robocalls, holding virtual town halls, delivering flyers, partnering with local health providers and more.

 

City officials added that on-site vaccination clinics for seniors living in NYCHA developments are also up and running, providing on-site vaccinations for residents aged 65 and older. Clinics at Van Dyke I & II Houses in Brooklyn, Cassidy Lafayette Houses in Staten Island, and Polo Grounds Towers in Manhattan are currently open, with plans to move to different sites across the city in the coming weeks.

 

Council Member Margaret S. Chin, who represents parts of lower Manhattan, said, “Coordinating with our aging service providers to connect older adults with information and transportation is the most effective way to achieve herd immunity for older New Yorkers.”

 

She added, “To ensure priority populations are vaccinated as soon as possible, we must have multi-lingual outreach in tandem with immunization. I am confident that pop-up sites at NYCHA facilities will be the fastest way to bring vaccines to the city’s most vulnerable seniors, and I am hopeful that this effort can be replicated city-wide.”

 

Norwood News recently reported that the City expects to run out of vaccines the week commencing Monday, Jan. 18, and that the State has called on the federal government to increase vaccine dose distribution to respond to the need.