Some Long Islanders will head to a new pop-up vaccination site in Wyandanch Friday, as part of an effort to provide shots to those in underserved communities.
The site is opening at the Gerald Ryan Outreach Center on Straight Path. It's one of 11 state-run distribution sites opening this week in communities of color.
Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre says the pop-up site will deliver lifesaving doses to people who otherwise might not be able to get them.
"If you don't make things accessible to people, then it becomes nearly impossible, particularly for some demographics, for some communities," she says.
The story of getting an appointment at this site as similar to many others -- gone in a a flash. About 500 appointments were available, which were all gone in just over a day.
For 68-year-old Paul Singh, getting the vaccine is a chance to live his life again. But he says it has been tricky to find an appointment.
"I went on the sites, but they are all -- the extension is showing not available, not available, not available," he says.
But he says the site is something to be encouraged about.
Even though the vaccine is coming, some in that area say they are hesitant to take it. Jean-Pierre is hoping she can eventually change their minds.
"We want to make sure that people understand it's safe and in order for us to get back to some sort of normalcy, I don't know what that looks like in the future, it's important for people to get vaccinated," says Jean-Pierre.
For those that were able to make an appointment Friday, they'll be returning to the same place in three weeks for their second dose.