BUFFALO, N.Y. — In a conference call with reporters Wednesday morning, Gov, Andrew Cuomo announced New York State is partnering with the federal government to open more mass vaccination sites to better serve "socially vulnerable communities."
The governor says the state is opening four additional mass vaccination sites outside of New York City, and one of which will be right here in Western New York. The mass vaccination sites are currently planned for Buffalo, Rochester, Albany and Yonkers.
According to the governor, these sites were selected in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and they are intended to target communities that have been "historically underserved" by the traditional health care system.
These testing sites will work with the National Guard, New York State, local leaders and community based organizations with the support of FEMA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Defense and other federal agencies.
According to the governor's office, each location will be tailored to meet the needs of each specific community, and appointments will initially be reserved for members of the community where those sites are located.
"From day one New York has prioritized equitable vaccination access with aggressive efforts targeted at reaching communities that were hit the hardest by COVID," Governor Cuomo said.
"We're putting four new vaccination sites in socially vulnerable communities outside of New York City where we've seen higher positivity rates and lower vaccination rates. These sites will operate with extended hours - each administering 1,000 doses of the vaccine every day - and there is no doubt that they will be the most effective way to get the vaccine out as quickly and as fairly as possible in the communities that need it most and bring us one step closer to winning the war against COVID."
The mass vaccination site in Western New York will be located at the Delavan Grider Community Center at 877 E. Delavan Ave. in the City of Buffalo. According to the governor, this location will begin vaccinating Western New Yorkers starting the beginning of March, and will vaccinate 1,000 people per day.
The governor's office says more scheduling information, along with opening dates and hours of operation will be available in the coming days.