NASSAU COUNTY, NY – Nassau County Executive Laura Curran today announced that 80% of adult residents (18+) in Nassau County have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, and the County continues to over-perform State and National vaccination rates among Adults, Seniors (65+), as well as among Black and Latino residents.
"I'm proud to share that approximately 80% of adults in Nassau County have now received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, the highest percentage among large Counties in New York State and well above the national average,” said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran.
According to the State Department of Health, Nassau County has the highest percentage of adult residents (18+) with at least one vaccine dose among all New York State Counties with a population greater than 200,000. 95% of Seniors in Nassau County have received at least vaccine dose, compared to 85% statewide and 88% nationwide. 43% of African American residents age 15+ in Nassau County have received at least one vaccine dose, compared to 38% statewide. 64% of Latino residents age 15+ in Nassau County have received at least one vaccine dose, compared to 59% statewide.
“This virus has not disappeared, and as more contagious COVID-19 variants like Delta emerge, getting vaccinated remains the single best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from getting sick or dying from Covid. The County is keeping a vigilant eye on the numbers and external developments, and we continue to encourage eligible residents who haven't gotten their shots yet to roll up their sleeves,” said County Executive Curran.
Nassau County has become a national model for COVID-19 vaccination, early on kicking off the “We Can Do It, Nassau” campaign to build public confidence in COVID-19 vaccines. The County ran four successful vaccine distribution centers at Nassau Coliseum, Nassau Community College, LIU Post and the “Yes We Can” Community Center. The County continues to work to distribute vaccines to hospitals and other community providers, working with Northwell Health and other medical partners to hold pop-up distribution events targeting hard to reach populations. Nassau also has collaborated with various community organizations like churches and synagogues for pop-up sites to get vaccines in the arms of those most in need.
The County established a designated way for veterans, seniors, and homebound residents to receive appointments. Veterans were able to make appointments through the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency by calling 516-572-6565. A hotline for seniors and the homebound was also created to get shots in the arms of the vulnerable. The Senior/Homebound population can make an appointment by calling 516-227-9590.
Health equity has been a cornerstone of the Nassau’s vaccine campaign, and the County has utilizes multimedia, multilingual communication to promote public confidence in the vaccine by emphasizing its importance for returning to normal. The County has reaches tens of thousands of residents through its SMS text system, which provides information about vaccination appointment availabilities in 6 languages. The Office of Health Equity has held multiple webinars with the County’s minority outreach agencies to provide information about the vaccine, including in Spanish, Haitian Creole, and other languages.
In addition, County Executive Curran formed the Nassau County Healthcare Equity Group to combat hesitancy of the COVID-19 vaccine and increase vaccine access for communities of color. The Team is led by Deputy County Executive for Health and Human Services Kyle Rose-Louder, and includes 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.
For young residents, Nassau County pioneered a first-of-its-kind Student Vaccination Initiative, which vaccinated thousands of eligible students and engaged and trained youth ambassadors to support and encourage peers to roll up their sleeves. The County drew national attention with this program and has been contacted by other Health Departments seeking guidance and detail on the County’s model.
“Since Day 1 of the County’s vaccination campaign, our motto has been “We Can Do It, Nassau!”, and I am beyond proud of our residents for rising to the challenge and getting the job done.” said County Executive Curran. “Our success has been a team effort, and we owe an eternal debt of gratitude to our County’s medical professionals, frontline workers, Health Commissioner Eisenstein and Nassau’s DOH staff, and of course our many volunteers who worked tirelessly to get shots in arms.”
Click here for more information on the vaccine and for available appointments.