UNIONDALE, NY – Nassau County Executive Laura Curran today announced a partnership between the County Department of Health and Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Nassau in Uniondale to vaccinate County residents with a focus on ensuring equitable access for communities of color. As part of the County’s “We Can Do It, Nassau” initiative, the partnership will include a sustained outreach and education campaign aimed at residents who are still hesitant about getting vaccinated.
The first date for vaccinations at the new MSK Nassau site will commence with 100 first doses (Moderna) by pre-set appointment only Thursday March 11, with the following additional pop-ups scheduled for Tuesday March 16, Thursday March 18, and Tuesday March 23. All residents who receive their 1st dose will be scheduled to receive their 2nd dose two weeks later at the same location. Residents were selected and scheduled from pre-registered lists compiled by the Nassau Equity Outreach Team in partnership with community groups and stakeholders.
“As supply ramps up, Nassau County is committed to ensuring an equitable vaccine distribution. By teaming up with community providers and reaching out through trusted messengers, our state-leading vaccination drive will reach all communities in Nassau County. Nassau County’s Vaccine Equity Team in particular is helping increase access and combat vaccine hesitancy in communities that were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. I thank Memorial Sloan Kettering for joining Nassau in this important initiative,” said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran.
“We’re honored to work with the Nassau County Vaccine Equity Team on this timely and important effort that will help ensure the members of our community at highest risk from COVID-19 get vaccinated as soon as possible. We also look forward to working with Nassau County on our shared goals for cancer health equity,” said Dr. Carol Brown, Senior Vice President and Chief Health Equity Officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering.
"Each vaccine brings us a step closer to ending this pandemic. This important initiative will ensure that our most vulnerable communities have equitable access to the vaccine. I commend County Executive Curran, the Nassau County Department of Health, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital for their ongoing efforts to keep our communities safe, informed, and healthy," said Senator Kevin Thomas.
“The Community I represent was one of the hardest hit during the height of the Covid Pandemic. The hesitancy we see with vaccinations is understandable based on history. Equitable access in our communities of color is vital, along with the necessary information and outreach to help break the vaccine stigma in the community. This is a great partnership for the County!” said Assemblymember Taylor Darling.
“Nassau’s Vaccine Equity Group is working tirelessly to ensure equitable access for residents. The County’s partnership with Memorial Sloan Kettering will continue beyond vaccination and outreach efforts to also focus on general cancer screenings and cancer health education in communities of color,” said Deputy County Executive for Health and Human Services Kyle Rose-Louder.
As part of the We Can Do It Nassau Campaign to build confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine, the Nassau County Equity Outreach Team will focus on increasing access to the vaccine in communities of color, as well as combating hesitancy that exist among residents. The County’s Vaccine Equity Team is led by Deputy County Executive for Health and Human Services Kyle Rose-Louder, and includes the following members from the Office of Minority Affairs, Office of Hispanic Affairs, Office of Asian American Affairs, Office of Health Equity, and the Office of Human Services:
- Dr. Carolyn McCummings – Human Services
- Dr. Andrea Ault-Brutus – Office Health Equity
- Dexter Hedgepeth and Lynn Poole – Office of Minority Affairs
- Amy Flores - Office of Hispanic Affairs
- Farrah Mozawalla - Office of Asian American Affairs
- Raina Townsend – Office of Human Services
- Dana Boylan – Office of Human Services
As per New York State prioritization guidance, Nassau County and its partners are only able to vaccinate eligible groups at this time. For more information on who is currently eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, visit: https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/phased-distribution-vaccine