Metro Creative Connection
Wed, May 12th 2021 05:55 pm
University Metro Rail Station, Utica Metro Rail Station, Buffalo Metropolitan Transportation Center, Portage Road Transportation Center & AppleTree Mall/Business Park locations open May 14, 15, 17-19
NFTA to provide free 7-day pass to individuals who get vaccinated at one of sites
All sites open for walk-in vaccinations on a first-come, first-served basis
New vaccination site at Sahlen Field in Buffalo Beginning June 1; people who take vaccine at site receive voucher for free ticket to Buffalo Bisons game
Blue Jays to host vaccine raffle
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday announced five new pop-up vaccination sites at Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority station stops in the Buffalo and Niagara Falls areas. The sites will serve walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis utilizing the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. New York is partnering with Erie County Medical Center, Kaleida Health, Urban Family Practice and Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center to administer vaccines at the sites.
NFTA will provide a free seven-day pass to people who get vaccinated at the sites.
The governor also announced that, beginning June 1, Sahlen Field in Buffalo will host a vaccination site. Anyone who gets vaccinated at the site will receive a voucher for a free ticket to a Buffalo Bisons game. The site will administer the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The Toronto Blue Jays will host a vaccine raffle for prizes, including four tickets to the Blue Jays-Yankees game in Buffalo, three autographed baseballs from star players, and an autographed jersey from a star player.
"The rate of vaccination is slowing in New York state and, as we reach the point where New Yorkers who want a vaccine have taken one, it's important that we make vaccination as easy a process as possible," Cuomo said."We're establishing more pop-up sites and letting individuals walk in to get vaccinated, and these new sites at local stationstops will help Western New Yorkcommuters and visitors alike easily access the vaccine along frequented routes in the area.”
The NFTA station stops and vaccination times are as follows:
•University Metro Rail Station
3383 Main St., Buffalo
Open: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
•Utica Metro Rail Station
1391 Main St., Buffalo
Open: 2-7 p.m.
•Buffalo Metropolitan Transportation Center
181 Ellicott St., Buffalo
Open: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
•AppleTree Mall/Business Park
2875 Union Road, Cheektowaga
Open: 2-7 p.m.
•Portage Road Transportation Center
1162 Portage Road, Niagara Falls
Open: 2-7 p.m.
Individuals planning on being vaccinated are encouraged to allow for additional time in their commute to accommodate the vaccination process.
NFTA Executive Director Kim Minkel said, "If our region is really going to recover from this pandemic, we need as many people as possible to jump on the bus and get vaccinated. The NFTA is excited to assist in the state's efforts to help ensure there's easy access for the COVID-19 vaccine for all transit riders and for the public by setting up five vaccination sites at our busiest locations. We thank Gov. Cuomo for partnership and his tremendous leadership in keeping New Yorkers safe and building this state back better than it was before."
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said, "Western New York experienced some of the highest COVID positivity rates in the state, and now that our numbers are going back down we have to make sure COVID cannot make a resurgence in our community. Gov. Cuomo has been here from the beginning to set up specially targeted vaccinated sites to reach communities and populations with the lowest vaccination rates, and these additional pop-up vaccination sites administered by ECMC and otherhealth providers at NFTA stops will make it even easier for the people in Buffalo to get vaccinated so we can end this pandemic once and for all."
This announcement adds to New York's ongoing efforts to make the COVID-19 vaccine more accessible. On May 10, the governor announced eight new pop-up vaccination sites atMTA station stopsin the New York City, Long Island and Mid-Hudson regions. On April 27, he announced all state mass-vaccination sites would open for walk-in appointments. Additionally, all vaccine providers are encouraged to allow walk-in appointments and eliminate other barriers for vaccinations for eligible New Yorkers.
TheCOVID-19 vaccine tracker dashboardis available to update New Yorkers on the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. The New York State Department of Health requires vaccinating facilities to report all COVID-19 vaccine administration data within 24 hours. The vaccine administration data on the dashboard is updated daily to reflect the most up-to-date metrics in the state's vaccination effort.
New Yorkers who suspect fraud in the vaccine distribution process can now call 833-VAX-SCAM (833-829-7226) toll-free or email the state Department of Health at[emailprotected]. Hotline staff will route complaints to the appropriate investigative agencies to ensure New Yorkers are not being taken advantage of as the state works to vaccinate the entire eligible population.
New York continues to open community-based, pop-up vaccination sites in underserved communities across the state. Since Jan. 15, more than 200 community-based pop-up sites have administered more than 77,000 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
