On February 8, 2021, Assemblyman Edward Braunstein (D-Bayside), Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D,WF-Fresh Meadows), Council Member Paul Vallone (D-Bayside), and Council Member Peter Koo (D-Flushing) called on the City to open permanent COVID-19 vaccination sites in Northeast Queens. The lawmakers were joined by NYC Comptroller Scott M. Stringer, Danielle Ellman, CEO of Commonpoint Queens, Linda Lee, President / CEO of Korean Community Services, representatives from Community Board 11Q, and local civic associations.“

The press conference held outside of Commonpoint Queens Sam Field Center follows a letter sent by Northeast Queens lawmakers to Mayor Bill de Blasio calling for sites in their districts as there are none “east of Union Street, Flushing or North of 82nd Road in Jamaica,” the letter reads. The borough awaits the opening of a “24/7 mega vaccination site” at CitiField which would still be too far for their constituents, especially without adequate public transit options.

Further, the inequity in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout has created additional barriers for seniors who have reported difficulty navigating the online portal, long wait times using the City’s hotline, and frustration over the absence of sites in their neighborhoods. The elected officials are calling for permanent sites that would ease the travel burden, and prepare Northeast Queens communities for vaccination appointments as supply becomes available.

Assemblyman Edward Braunstein said, “There is no excuse for the Mayor’s failure to open a single vaccination site in Northeast Queens, which has one of the largest percentages of senior citizens in the City. Let’s be clear – Mayor de Blasio is putting the health and safety of our community at risk and it is simply unacceptable. I join my colleagues in demanding the immediate opening of multiple vaccination locations in Eastern Queens.”

Once again, the City has forgotten about Northeast Queens,” said Assemblywoman Rozic. “We understand the vaccine shortage has created logistical hurdles, but we cannot leave any communities behind when supply is eventually replenished and distributed. The City should have identified appropriate locations that could serve as vaccination sites months ago so our communities are not overlooked. The expectation that seniors must travel long distances for the chance of immunization is unacceptable.”

State Senator John Liu said, “It’s bad enough that there are no vaccination sites in northeast Queens, but it is simply mind-boggling that there doesn’t seem to be any concrete plans yet to set up a long-term vaccination site in our community. We have received numerous complaints from community members, and my colleagues and I have reached out to state and city officials multiple times, to no avail. Leaving out northeast Queens from comprehensive vaccination plans is irresponsible and short sighted. Understanding that there is a vaccine supply issue at the moment, there is nothing preventing the city and state from putting plans into place in northeast Queens so we can hit the ground running once more supplies are available. The Governor or the Mayor (or both) need to let us know how they will serve this community, as soon as possible.”

Council Member Paul A. Vallone said, “Despite having one of the largest senior populations in the city, Northeast Queens still does not have a single vaccination site. That is unacceptable. Our seniors should not have to travel 10, 20, 30 or more miles during a health pandemic to access a lifesaving vaccine. I once again call on the Governor and the Mayor to immediately open urgently-needed vaccination sites in Northeast Queens.”

Council Member Peter Koo said, “The lack of vaccination sites in northeast Queens is especially difficult for our seniors, many of whom have significant difficulties traveling far from home. We need to prioritize equal distribution of sites immediately in order to fairly and safely serve all our constituents.”

Comptroller Scott Stringer said, “New York City’s rocky vaccine rollout poses major challenges for seniors facing challenges with mobility, internet access or digital literacy. We must ensure that the New Yorkers most vulnerable to COVID-19are able get vaccinated quickly–that means more vaccine sites in communities that many seniors call home, making sure that translation services reflect the languages spoken in those communities, and harnessing neighborhood-based organizations that have strong relationships with the senior populations they serve. Northeast Queens is a prime example of a community that needs long-term vaccine sites and expanded culturally-competent vaccine services for seniors.

Danielle Ellman, CEO of Commonpoint Queens, said,“ For the better part of the last year we have reassured older adults in our borough that we will help provide them with safe access to food, socialization, transportation and anything else they need during this challenging time. With light seemingly at the end of the tunnel, it's disheartening to see how anxious they still are about being able to access the vaccine, and we are beyond desperate to help them.”

Linda Lee, President / CEO, Korean Community Services said, “Our neighborhoods are home to a large population of seniors and immigrants who sustain our essential workforce. Combined with transportation deserts, the lack of language accessibility, and the digital divide, Eastern Queens is facing great hurdles to getting the most vulnerable vaccinated. Even those of us fluent in English with smart devices are scrambling to find appointments. We can and must do so much more to ensure the equitable distribution of vaccines.”

Currently, people in phases 1a and 1b are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, qualifying anyone over the age of 65 as well as many cohorts of essential workers. New Yorkers across the city and state have been met with supply scarcity, technology challenges, and mobility barriers in making and travelling to appointments, all of which is exacerbated for senior citizens.

Michael Budabin, Chair, Community Board 11 said, “We have contacted the Vaccine Command and they have been responsive and understanding of our situation. We are aware that it is hard to open new vaccination sites without a reliable influx of doses from the Federal government. However, it is the strong belief of our Health and Human Services Committee that logistical planning should be implemented now to ensure a vaccination site is fully prepared to open in Community Board 11, Queens immediately upon the availability of adequate and consistent delivery of vaccine doses. We stand willing and able to volunteer to help find sites that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and large enough to serve our neighborhoods.”

Marie Adam-Ovide, District Manager, Community Board 8 said, “We are not safe from COVID-19 until every community is vaccinated. To this end, we must ensure that every community has access to the vaccine.”