FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 24, 2021

Rockland County Emergency Operations Center Activated

Managing Senior COVID-19 Vaccine Waitlist

New City, NY, - County Executive Ed Day, Office for the Aging Director Tina Cardoza-Izquierdo and Office of Fire and Emergency Services Director Chris Kear announced the activation of the county’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to assist in managing the Senior COVID-19 Vaccine Waitlist.

“I want to be clear with all of you, I consider this pandemic and the vaccine rollout to be a serious emergency, akin to Hurricanes Sandy and Floyd or any of the major snowstorms and weather events which have caused the EOC to be activated in the past,” said County Executive Day. “This is an all-hands-on deck moment when we in government must do everything in our power to assist and protect the people we serve.”

Rockland residents age 65+ can sign up to the Senior COVID-19 Vaccine Waitlist by calling the Rockland County Office for the Aging at 845-364-2110, Monday through Friday (except holidays), 8:00 am through 5:00 pm. In addition, residents can sign up online http://rcklnd.us/c19-waitlist.

“As per the Executive Order from New York State, seniors are to be prioritized for vaccination at pharmacies. Office for the Aging is working with several local pharmacies to take people from our list when they receive vaccine from New York State,” said Director Cardoza-Izquierdo. “We’ve assisted greater than two thousand seniors thus far but will be moving thousands more through the process when other providers receive vaccine from New York State.”

As of Tuesday, February 23, 11,448 seniors were currently on the waitlist.

“When we look beyond the necessary mandate to vaccinate health care, first responders and essential workers, we are trying our level best to logically accommodate and vaccinate our residents specifically and narrowly based on the assessment of our health department professionals. No more, no less. But the fact is no matter what category of eligibility one may be in, many are going to focus on their group first. It is understandable and I get that. What I am going to ask of all is to take pause and consider those around you like the good neighbors I know you all are,” concluded County Executive Day.

Full video from the activation announcement is available here: https://fb.watch/3Sr8uSs3d1/

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