Putnam Health Officials Ask Unvaccinated Adults To Tell Them Why

BREWSTER, NY — The Putnam County Department of Health has launched a coronavirus vaccine survey to gather feedback from adult residents who remain unvaccinated.

Anyone who has not yet received a vaccine is encouraged to complete the anonymous questionnaire online.

"The results of this survey will be used to guide our department into better focusing on, and addressing, the needs of our unvaccinated citizens," Michael J. Nesheiwat, MD, Putnam's Commissioner of Health, said in an announcement about the new survey. "People may remain unvaccinated due to individual time constraints, lack of access, a limited understanding of the risks of COVID, or just a more general vaccine hesitancy."

Officials are asking folks to respond promptly, to help them manage current vaccination supply requests.

Alison Kaufman, DVM, MPH, the department’s epidemiologist, focused efforts to develop a user-friendly survey. It is offered in both English and Spanish, and only takes about two minutes to complete.

"We took care to optimize it for a mobile platform as well, in order to reach more people and encourage them to share their thoughts," she said.

Vaccine supplies have increased and now everyone 16 years and older who lives, works, or attends school in New York State is eligible to receive a free coronavirus vaccine.

The health department will have held 31 vaccine clinics by the end of April and administered more than 15,000 vaccines to residents. Two sites are currently being used: Lakeview Plaza on Route 22 in Brewster and the Philipstown Recreation Center in Garrison.

For more information and to access the survey, visit the health department website or access the survey directly by clicking here: Putnam Vaccine Survey.

"The health department wants to make sure that everyone who is eligible has a chance to get a vaccine," Dr. Nesheiwat said. "Moreover, our survey results will be shared with the NYSDOH so they will have a better understanding of the concerns of our residents.”