FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2021

Rockland County Department of Health Begins Vaccinating Those Eligible Under NYS Phased Vaccination Program

New City, NY, - County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert announced the arrival of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to the Department of Health and the plan to begin vaccinating individuals eligible under the New York State Phased Vaccination program. Members of the Department of Health clinical staff who were eligible to be vaccinated received their first dose of the vaccine, the second dose will be given in four weeks.

“It is excellent to now have this vaccine in hand and be able to supplement the other vaccination efforts already underway. Providing vaccinations to our clinical staff who will in turn vaccinate other eligible individuals is the very beginning of the end of this pandemic. We have all been through so much and to take this considerable step towards protecting the health and safety of Rockland residents is an extremely positive development,” said Dr. Ruppert.

The Rockland County Department of Health will now offer vaccinations to eligible groups and populations 9 AM – 5 PM, Monday through Friday. ONLY those eligible under the NYS Phased Vaccination program will be able to receive a vaccination at the Department of Health.

To date the New York State Department of Health or other state or local agencies have directly notified those groups and populations which are eligible to be vaccinated. Individuals are not currently able to call either the State or Local Health Department to register to be vaccinated.

New York State has launched a tool to check if you are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in New York. If you are eligible, the tool will show you where you can go to get the vaccine. Linked here: https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/

Prior to receiving the vaccination, you must complete the New York State COVID-19 Vaccine Form. This form can be completed online, and you will receive a submission ID, or you can fill out the form at your vaccination site.

“This vaccine is a powerful tool to help keep Rockland residents safe, and we strongly urge those who are eligible to get vaccinated. In the meantime, we continue to ask everyone to remain cautious and follow recommended public health measures to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Wear a well-fitting mask, maintain 6 feet of distance from people who do not live with you and keep your hands clean,” said Dr. Ruppert.

It is recommended that everyone receiving a vaccination sign up for “v-safe” the CDC after vaccination health checker. V-safe is a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Through v-safe, you can quickly tell CDC if you have any side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Depending on your answers, someone from CDC may call to check on you and get more information. And v-safe will remind you to get your second COVID-19 vaccine dose.

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This announcement is available for viewing here: https://fb.watch/2Qz7PLpLry/

Live video of members of the Department of Health clinical staff who were eligible to be vaccinated receiving their first dose of the vaccine: https://fb.watch/2Qz8YNZSBA/

Photos of vaccination are available upon request.

Background information on the New York State Phased Vaccination program:

Eligible New Yorkers in Phase 1A are:

• High-risk hospital workers (emergency room workers, ICU staff and Pulmonary Department staff)
• Residents and staff at nursing homes and other congregate care facilities
• Federally Qualified Health Center employees
• EMS workers
• Coroners, medical examiners and certain funeral workers
• Staff and residents at OPWDD, OMH and OASAS facilities
• Urgent Care providers
• Individuals administering COVID-19 vaccines, including local health department staff
  

Beginning January 4, 2021: 

• All Outpatient/Ambulatory front-line, high-risk health care workers of any age who provide direct in-person patient care
• All staff who are in direct contact with patients (i.e., intake staff)
• All front-line, high-risk public health workers who have direct contact with patients, including those conducting COVID-19 tests, handling COVID-19 specimens and COVID-19 vaccinations
• This includes, but is not limited to,
• Doctors who work in private medical practices and their staff 
• Doctors who work in hospital-affiliated medical practices and their staff
• Doctors who work in public health clinics and their staff
• Registered Nurses
• Specialty medical practices of all types
• Dentists and Orthodontists and their staff
• Psychiatrists and Psychologists and their staff
• Physical Therapists and their staff
• Optometrists and their staff
• Pharmacists and Pharmacy Aides
• Home care workers
• Hospice workers
• Staff of nursing homes/skilled nursing facilities who did not receive COVID vaccination through the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program

 The complete details of later Phases have not been announced by New York State.

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