More Long Islanders will have access to COVID-19 vaccines as Nassau County opened its first vaccine distribution center Tuesday.
The county and Northwell Health are working together to get people signed up and vaccinated at Nassau Community College.
The opening of the vaccine distribution center comes after Gov. Andrew Cuomo criticized hospitals in the state and on Long Island for not distributing vaccine doses on hand soon enough.
He called on local politicians to take personal responsibility for their hospitals.
Nassau Executive Laura Curran says 115 vaccines were due to be administered on day one, while they hope to get up to 400 a day, seven days a week.
Frustrations have also been voiced by those that are eligible in the health care field about the difficulty to find a place to get the shot.
Outpatient health care workers were added Monday to the list of those who can now get the shot, which includes people who work at doctor's offices and dentist's offices.
But there are still plenty of questions lingering from people in groups that are being told they'll be next in line for the vaccine.
Farmingdale Federation of Teachers President Cordelia Anthony says her colleagues have asked her plenty.
"When and how will that distribution happen, will we be able to go to a pharmacy to get it or does it have to be organized at a specific facility where teachers have to show ID?" asks Anthony.
New York does have an "Am I Eligible" form you can fill out online. If you are eligible, you'll see an option to 'locate providers' and then you'd contact one of them to schedule an appointment. If you're not yet eligible, you'll get a message saying so but without further information except to keep checking back.
Curran says she's sending a letter to Cuomo asking him to expand the category of first responders who are currently allowed to get the vaccine to include police officers, firefighters and correction officers.
If you do work in health care and want to get vaccinated, you can't just show up at Nassau Community College. You need an appointment, just like at most coronavirus testing sites.
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Eligibility:
Residents can check their eligibility to receive
the COVID-19 vaccine at the list below. Those who are eligible must make an
appointment. Only those who meet the criteria can make an appointment at this
time.
The
vaccine will be provided for free regardless of insurance or immigration
status. As of Monday, January 4, the following residents meet the criteria to the
vaccine as per the New York State prioritization guidance:
• High-risk hospital staff, affiliates,
volunteers and contract staff including State-operated Office of Mental Health
(OMH) psychiatric centers
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Personnel
• Medical Examiners and Coroners
• Funeral workers who have direct contact
with infectious material and bodily fluids.
• Health care, other high-risk direct care
essential staff and agency staff working in Long Term Care Facilities and
long-term, congregate settings overseen by Office of People with Developmental
Disabilities (OPWDD) the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Office of
Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS).
• Residents living in Long Term Care
Facilities and in long-term congregate settings overseen by OPWDD, OMH and
OASAS
• FQHC staff
• Urgent Care providers
• Any staff administering COVID-19
vaccinations
• All Outpatient/Ambulatory front line, high
risk health care providers who provide direct in-person patient care or other
staff in a position where they have direct contact with patients, such as
receptionists, of any age.