MCC Daily Tribune

New York State & FEMA to Open a Vaccination Site in Rochester

In January, we shared the good news that faculty who teach in-person are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine (article). We were happy to hear at the recent MCC Town Hall that some of you are already vaccinated. Congratulations!

Today, thanks to Governor Cuomo, we share more good news about a mass vaccination site opening in Rochester on Wednesday, March 3. The site was selected in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), focused on improving vaccine access in socially vulnerable communities.

As the Governor announced yesterday, “eligible New Yorkers who live in qualifying ZIP codes in Rochester can schedule an appointment to get vaccinated at a new mass vaccination site at the Former Kodak Hawkeye Parking Lot, 1345 St. Paul Street, Rochester, NY 14621.

“The site is initially reserved for eligible Rochester residents who live in the following ZIP codes: 14605, 14613, 14611, 14608, 14621, 14619, 14606, 14615, 14614, 14609, 14604, 14603. After a week, it will open to all eligible residents in the county or target region.

“The Former Kodak Hawkeye Parking Lot vaccination site will be open to those with appointments beginning Wednesday, March 3, and will be able to handle 1,000 appointments a day, 7 days a week. You must have an appointment to get vaccinated. If you show up without an appointment, you will not get the vaccine.

“Help us get the word out! Even if you're not yet eligible for the vaccine, please share this information with friends, family or neighbors.”

How to make an appointment:

By Phone: To make an appointment by phone, call the NYS COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 1-833-697-4829 (the hotline is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week). They will ask you some questions to confirm you are eligible for the vaccine, and then work with you to schedule an appointment at a time that is convenient. You can tell the call center agent you want to get an appointment at the Former Kodak Hawkeye Parking Lot in Rochester.
Online: To register online, use the Am I Eligible tool. Fill out your information. If you are eligible, you will see locations where you can schedule a vaccine appointment listed out by proximity to your address. Select the Former Kodak Hawkeye Parking Lot, and complete the process on the online scheduling system until your appointment is confirmed.

Eligibility:
About 10 million New Yorkers are currently eligible for the vaccine, but not everyone is. Eligible groups include people age 65 and older, those with qualifying health conditions (for example, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and pregnancy), health care workers, teachers, and other groups of essential workers. If you're unsure if you're eligible for the vaccine, you can easily check here or call the Vaccine Hotline at 1-833-697-4829.

If you're eligible and successfully schedule an appointment, follow the step-by-step guide that you can find on ny.gov/vaccine to learn what you need to bring with you and other important information.

“The COVID vaccine is safe, effective and free. We encourage all New Yorkers to get the vaccine as soon as it's available to them. If you have any questions about the COVID vaccine, visit ny.gov/vaccine or talk to your doctor.”

As a reminder:

In-person college instructors are included in Phase 1b of the NYS vaccine distribution plan and can begin scheduling appointments with individual providers, including pharmacies, local health departments, and hospitals. If you are assigned to teach in person this semester, you are responsible for making your own appointment. You must bring proof of eligibility to a vaccination site, which may include an employee ID card, a letter from an employer or affiliated organization, or a pay stub, depending on the specific priority. (Requirements may vary by site.) Please contact MCC Human Resources Director Kristin Lowe (klowe5@monroecc.edu) for a letter to support your eligibility.
At this time, staff members assigned to work on campus are not included in phase 1b. If this status changes, you will be notified.
While we strongly encourage you to consider getting a COVID-19 vaccination to protect yourself, your family and our community, SUNY and MCC do not require immunization. Even after you have received the vaccine, you will be expected to adhere to all aspects of our SUNY-approved Winter/Spring Semester 2021 Plan and all health and safety protocols, including participating in weekly COVID-19 pooled testing, wearing a mask, socially distancing, and washing your hands often.
Although a certain level of immunity exists after vaccination, building immunity against COVID-19 takes time and will still require us to socially distance, wear masks and test. More studies need to be conducted to determine the exact duration of immunity. It is too early to know the length of immunity at this time.

Katherine Douglas
Office of the President
02/25/2021