New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio recently announced new COVID-19 vaccination efforts to reach homebound New Yorkers and home health aides, including a focus on Brooklyn residents.
A new vaccine site is underway at Teachers Prep High School in Brownsville devoted specifically to home health aides, according to media reports. The site will also generally serve residents of Brownsville and East New York, two hard-hit areas in the pandemic. The Teachers Prep vaccine site is set to run six days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
HCA has contacted the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene about the site. A meeting is scheduled for later this week, bringing together HCA, partner state associations, and city officials to discuss coordination with unions who have waiting lists for home health aides seeking appointments that could be accommodated at this location. City officials say other sites are also being considered for additional home care workers as well.
Also, the Mayor has outlined a plan to deliver doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to homebound seniors, starting as early as next month, assuming the new vaccine is approved at the federal level. That vaccine only requires one shot and has less stringent storage requirements compared to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
Please stay tuned for further information as we learn more about all of these efforts.
Reminder: Limited Supply of Vaccines Available to ‘Patient-Facing’ Care Staff in NYC through HSS
As shared in a member alert last week and in Monday’s newsletter, HCA reminds providers that the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in Manhattan has made available COVID-19 vaccines to front-line “patient-facing” home care workers employed by home care agencies that serve patients in New York State. Learn more about the process and how to get your staff enrolled here.
Reminder: Complete HCA Survey on Vaccine Need
Also, if you haven’t yet done so, please respond as soon as possible with urgently needed data on home care vaccination rates to support further efforts on home care vaccine access. The survey is due by close of business today.
HCA, the New York State Association of Health Care Providers (HCP), and LeadingAge New York urge your organization to complete this very brief survey here on the approximate number of home care workers you employ who are not yet vaccinated.
Vaccine planners have asked us for this information in an effort to support our sector. All home care providers should answer this survey. Your answers are needed to assess the total potential need.
Lastly, HCA continues to work with regional vaccination hubs across the state to target vaccines to home care workers, particularly in the Capital District Region and Western New York.