“For the past year, COVID-19 has ravaged our state and presented unprecedented challenges for families and businesses. Fortunately, we’re making great strides in mitigating the damage and working to get New Yorkers vaccinated as safely and efficiently as possible. Recently, the governor announced that vaccination sites will be established in Buffalo, Rochester, Albany and Yonkers to target underserved communities and ensure that the vaccine is being distributed equitably. While this is great news for those who live in metropolitan areas, choosing cities for these vaccination sites leave our rural areas underserved.

“Mass vaccination sites in the Capital Region are crucial for getting this virus under control, but rural communities will need additional vaccination sites due to the long distances residents would have to travel to access a site located in an urban area. We are currently exploring ways to increase vaccine access for rural New Yorkers, and we must consider adding mass vaccination sites at large, open areas like the Fonda Fairgrounds. A person’s ZIP code shouldn’t determine whether they can safely and easily access the COVID-19 vaccine. I’ll continue working to support our rural communities and ensure they can access the resources they need to get through this pandemic.”