Mass Coronavirus Vaccination Site Opens For Mount Vernon-Yonkers

MOUNT VERNON, NY — New York officials are opening a mass vaccination site in southwestern Westchester County, one of four across the state targeting what are called socially impacted, socially vulnerable communities.

"It is very important that the distribution be fair," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in the announcement. "This is a precious resource. Everybody wants it. There's not enough. The best you can do is make sure you are fair."

The four sites, which will open March 3, will get vaccine doses directly from the federal government and will be jointly run between the state and the federal government in a coordinated effort to address vaccine hesitancy in the Black community, where vaccination rates are about half the state average.

Appointments at the four mass vaccination sites will, for the first week, be limited to people living in specific zip codes. Appointments for testing will open on Feb. 24 for residents of Mount Vernon zip codes: 10553, 10550, and 10552 and Yonkers zip codes: 10701, 10705, 10703, and 10704.

Residents will be able to make an appointment through the New York State website. If residents have an issue using the state website, they can also use the vaccination hotline at 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829).

In Westchester, a site will be opened at the New York National Guard Recruiting Center in Yonkers and the first week's appointments will be reserved for residents living in specific zip codes in Mount Vernon and Yonkers, state officials said. After that, any county resident will be able to seek an appointment there.

"I am pleased a vaccine site is opening at the Armory in Southwest Yonkers because it will help to make vaccine distribution more equitable and save lives," said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins in a statement. "I live in Yonkers and know firsthand the impact COVID-19 has had on our communities. I've lost so many friends, and I hear residents call my office, close to tears, almost every day because they cannot get a vaccine appointment.

"While my staff works to connect as many residents as possible with pharmacies who offer the vaccine, there are still not enough appointments to meet the need. I have been strongly advocating for more mass vaccine sites in communities hit hardest by the pandemic," she said. "I thank our local, state, and federal partners for their efforts to help make this happen."

The other three are in Buffalo, Rochester and Albany. Each site is expected to give a thousand vaccinations per day.

The Majority Leader said she is launching an awareness campaign to let residents know the Yonkers site is about to open. Her staff will be reaching out to organizations and residents by phone. She will also be making efforts online to get the word out.

"We saw Yankee Stadium open, and people didn’t even know it was a vaccine site in the beginning," Stewart-Cousins said. "We can’t let that happen in Yonkers. My office will be working to raise awareness."

She is hosting a Facebook Live event at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 with Senator Shelley Mayer to address health inequity in the Black community, and what can be done to combat vaccine hesitancy. Stewart-Cousins urged residents to join the conversation and to visit the State’s website to determine if they may be eligible to get the vaccine.