NY To Offer Residents 60+ Walk-In Vaccinations At Some Clinics

YONKERS, NY — New Yorkers age 60 and up will be able to get a coronavirus vaccine at one of 16 mass vaccination sites throughout the state without an appointment starting Friday.

The walk-in program for seniors will help those who haven't made an appointment or aren't comfortable registering online, said Gov. Andrew Cuomo, speaking at a news briefing in Yonkers.

The walk-in vaccination sites include one site in the Hudson Valley — at the Yonkers Armory — and five in New York City.

There may be a wait for those opting to walk-in at some sites depending on demand. Additionally, all proof of identity and insurance information, if applicable, will be needed.

"Every day our state moves closer to a post-pandemic future by vaccinating more New Yorkers," Cuomo said. "We're taking that effort a step further and making the vaccine more accessible to older New Yorkers by allowing walk-ins to get vaccinated at 16 mass vaccination sites. A robust vaccination program is vitally important to the public health, and we're working 24/7 to get shots in arms, protect New Yorkers and move the state forward."

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said he thought the further expansion of vaccine availability to permit walk-in vaccination was going to help older people, especially those who aren't expert with computers and the internet.

In the early stages of the vaccination program, when appointments were scarce and the registration process was difficult and time-consuming, "it discouraged people," Latimer said. "We think this is going to help dramatically."

Latimer congratulated the National Guard members who have been in charge of the Yonkers clinic, which just opened March 3, for administering their 50,000th shot on Wednesday. He pointed out that the Guard has been in Westchester for a year, since the first mass coronavirus testing site was created in New Rochelle.

The Hudson region continues to have the second-highest coronavirus test positivity rate in the state.