HEALTH DEPARTMENT CONTINUES COVID-19 VACCINATION FOR PHASE 1B ESSENTIAL WORKERS

Appointments to open at 4:00 pm today

NEW CITY, NY, - The Rockland County Department of Health (RCDOH) announces that registration for the COVID-19 vaccine at the RCDOH site will open on the COVID-19 webpage for Phase 1b essential workers only, today at 4:00 pm. We do not expect the registration link to be open for very long. For up-to-date information on vaccinations at the RCDOH COVID-19 clinic, follow/like us at https://www.facebook.com/rockhealth or https://twitter.com/rockhealth.

This week, RCDOH received 700 doses of the Moderna vaccine for eligible workers who live or work in NYS and work as part of the phase 1b essential worker category. Phase 1b essential workers, including police, firefighters, teachers, college professors, and grocery store workers. The full list of essential workers that qualify for a vaccine at the RCDOH can be found here.

At this time, the RCDOH will NOT be expanding vaccination eligibility to restaurant employees, restaurant delivery workers, and for-hire vehicle drivers, including taxi, livery, black car, and transportation network company drivers.

You must attest to being a Phase 1b essential worker to register for an appointment. Appointments are required. Phase 1b essential workers will be able to make an appointment by visiting: http://rcklnd.us/covid19

• If you are a Phase 1b essential employee who works in New York State, you must bring proof of employment to your appointment such as an employee ID card, a letter from your employer or affiliated organization, a recent pay stub, etc.
  
  
• If you are a Phase 1b essential employee who lives in New York State but works out of state, you must bring proof of residency to your appointment such as a New York State driver's license or proof of New York State residency in addition to the proof of employment listed above.

As per the Governor's Executive Order 202.91, pharmacies, physician networks, and practice groups are primarily responsible for vaccinating the senior population. Hospitals must continue to prioritize unvaccinated healthcare workers. Newly eligible individuals, including restaurant employees, restaurant delivery workers, and for-hire vehicle drivers, are eligible for vaccination at New York State-operated mass vaccination sites.

The Rockland County Health Department must follow the Governor's Executive Order and New York State guidelines on whom we can vaccinate. Appointments for vaccinations performed by hospitals, local pharmacies, physician networks or practices, and other locations must be made directly through those providers. A list of Rockland County's Vaccine Allocation can be found here.

Check the New York State Am I Eligible webpage for a list of state-run vaccination sites. If you do not have access to a computer, eligible New Yorkers can call to schedule a vaccination appointment at a state-run site by calling the New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline 1-833-697-4829.

If you are 65+ and a Rockland resident, call the Rockland County Office for the Aging (OFA) at 845-364-2110, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am through 5:00 pm, to be put on a list for assistance making COVID-19 vaccine appointments. The OFA has partnered with several locally owned pharmacies to handle vaccination registration and will provide volunteers through the Rockland Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) to provide assistance while seniors are being vaccinated. The OFA can also help resident seniors with transportation to appointments as part of the Medical Transportation program. Spanish and Creole speakers are available. Please be patient if their phone bank is busy helping other residents.

The Rockland County Department of Health cannot predict how many more doses will be received in the coming weeks and encourages eligible individuals to sign up for appointments wherever they are available.

Your appointment for the second dose will be made for you during your first dose appointment. As a reminder, wherever you receive your first dose of vaccine, you must return to that location for your second dose.