VALHALLA, NY (July 22, 2021) – U.S. Congressman Jamaal Bowman, New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, New York State Senator Shelley Mayer, New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson, New Rochelle City Councilwoman Yadira Ramos-Herbert and the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) are encouraging residents of New Rochelle and its surrounding areas to get the COVID-19 vaccine at a pop-up clinic to be held Friday, July 23 outside the Wash and Shop Laundromat at 467 North Avenue in the city.
WMCHealth will operate the clinic and administer the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Representatives fluent in English and Spanish will be on hand to assist with vaccination. There are no out-of-pocket costs to participants regardless of insurance or immigration status and children ages 12-17 are eligible for vaccination, if accompanied by a parent or guardian. Clinic organizers recommend a vaccination appointment, which community members can schedule by calling 914.227.9309 or sending an email to JKonviss@NewRochelleNY.com.Walk-ups to the clinic are also welcome.
To encourage participation, a limited number of $50 gift cards will be presented to individuals that receive a COVID-19 vaccine at the pop-up clinic.The gift cards are available through a grant funded by community donations.
This important, public health initiative is a collaborative effort of Congressman Bowman, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Senator Mayer, Mayor Bramson, City Councilwoman Ramos-Herbert and WMCHealth to help ensure all community members have access to the COVID-19 vaccine, particularly those in areas where vaccination rates have remained low.
The elected officials asked WMCHealth to facilitate the pop-up clinic as the Network directs vaccine distribution coordination for the Hudson Valley HUB in New York State's Regional Vaccine Network. The New Rochelle pop-up clinic is an initiative of WMCHealth's Health Equity Task Force, which the Network established to help address disparities in vaccine information, education and access.
"I am glad to be part of this partnership with the State, WMCHealth, and the City to bring this Mobile Vaccination Clinic to New Rochelle," said Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins. "Getting this vaccine is a lifeline to protect against COVID-19. Many in this area are not yet vaccinated, which is why having this mobile clinic is so important. We have seen too many people get sick, and the last thing we need is another spike due to the variant. I urge everyone not vaccinated to take advantage of this safe, easy, and free way to protect yourselves and your loved ones. And thanks to the generosity of the community, those vaccinated will receive a gift card!"
"The recent rise in New York's COVID-19 cases is cause for concern. We must continue to take precautions and redouble our efforts to reach those who are eligible and willing to get vaccinated to protect ourselves and our neighbors," said Senator Mayer. Thank you to Congressman Bowman, New York State Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, New Rochelle Mayor Bramson, New Rochelle City Councilwoman Ramos-Herbert and the Westchester Medical Center Health Network for your efforts. This pop-up clinic will make the vaccine even more accessible to the people of New Rochelle and the surrounding community."
"With the rapid spread of the delta variant, vaccinations take on even greater urgency. The safe, free, and effective vaccine is the best way to protect ourselves and our families, and to ensure a full recovery for our entire community," said Mayor Bramson. "I am grateful for this team effort to maximize vaccination opportunities for all of New Rochelle's residents."
"Today's event is a reflection of true partnership across government offices, non-profits and WMCHealth. I am thrilled to see this focused support in my district as we all work together to protect each other from COVID-19," said City Councilwoman Ramos-Herbert.
"I would like to thank Congressman Bowman, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Mayor Bramson and City Councilwoman Ramos-Herbert for including us in this partnership," said Michael D. Israel, President and CEO of WMCHealth. "While WMCHealth has supported the operation of New York State mass vaccination sites such as the Westchester County Center, some of our most important work has been the operation of community vaccination sites that create opportunities for more people to gain protection from COVID-19. Our primary goal at WMCHealth is to encourage vaccination through education and access, and we are eager to deliver both directly to Hudson Valley communities through pop-up clinics and similar, local efforts."
About Westchester Medical Center Health Network
The Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) is a 1,700-bed healthcare system headquartered in Valhalla, New York, with 10 hospitals on eight campuses spanning 6,200 square miles of the Hudson Valley. WMCHealth employs more than 13,000 people and has nearly 3,000 attending physicians. From Level 1, Level 2 and Pediatric Trauma Centers, the region's only acute care children's hospital, an academic medical center, several community hospitals, dozens of specialized institutes and centers, Comprehensive and Primary Stroke Centers, skilled nursing, assisted living facilities, homecare services and one of the largest mental health systems in New York State, today WMCHealth is the pre-eminent provider of integrated healthcare in the Hudson Valley. For more information about WMCHealth, visit WMCHealth.org or follow WMCHealth at Facebook.com/WMCHealth or Instagram.com/WMCHealth.