The Institute joins statewide rollout of COVID-19 vaccination effort

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Sophia Guida

The Institute joins statewide rollout of COVID-19 vaccination effort

January 29, 2021

This month, the Institute was proud to join health care providers across the state in launching New York’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout.  As of January 29, the Institute has administered over 4,400 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible staff, patients and community members.

The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective, and will be a critical tool in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and saving lives. As was anticipated, New York State received limited doses of vaccine in the early phases of the rollout, and priority access was given to health care workers, other frontline workers and adults aged 65 and older. As more shipments arrive in New York State in coming months, the Institute will make additional vaccine appointments available at our Harlem, Walton (Bronx), Stevenson (Bronx), Kingston, New Paltz, Ellenville and Hyde Park locations, all of which are approved as vaccine distribution sites.

“We are so proud to be part of vaccination efforts in New York City and the Hudson Valley,” said Cindy-Lou Killikelly, RN, the Institute’s vice president of nursing. “We are looking forward to serving as a vaccination site for as long as needed to help end the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Institute staff and community members have expressed enthusiasm and gratitude for the vaccine. For Wendy Cesar, RN, nurse manager at the Institute’s Cadman Family Health Center, the benefits were clear: “Knowing that the COVID-19 is a deadly virus, I wanted to protect myself, the lives of my family, my friends and the people I encounter every day in my profession as a nurse.” A community member, Susan S., who was vaccinated at our Walton Family Health Center in the Bronx, wrote, “My husband I received our COVID-19 vaccinations today. [The staff] explained the process and relieved my concerns. Everyone we came in contact with was friendly and professional. In this very difficult time of anxiety, we are grateful to Walton.” And, following an Institute-run vaccine clinic at the Woodland Pond retirement community in New Paltz, Woodland Pond’s president and CEO, Michelle Gramoglia, commended the Institute staff as “professional and caring. It was a huge success… it really has been remarkable.”  Over 220 Woodland Pond residents and 40 caregivers were vaccinated at the event.

The Institute will continue to coordinate with New York State and New York City to make additional doses of vaccine available to eligible individuals as quickly as possible. For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine, to check if you are eligible, and to find out how to schedule an appointment as they become available, bookmark institute.org/covid19vaccine and check for updates often. Information is available in English, Spanish and French.