Queens Lawmakers on the Move Jan. 13, 2021

Queens County City Council News

De Blasio Announces Mega 24/7 Vaccination Site at Citi Field

Mayor Bill de Blasio

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Tuesday that Citi Field will become a 24/7 mega vaccination site for the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Operated by the NYC Health + Hospitals Test & Trace Corps, the site is currently slated to launch the week of January 25.  

“The Mets are hitting it out of the park today,” said de Blasio. “By making Citi Field a 24/7 vaccination site they’re stepping up to the plate for New Yorkers across our city.”

An additional 24/7 mega site also launched today at 125 Worth Street in Manhattan, adding to the two sites that are currently operational in the Bronx and Brooklyn. A site in Staten Island at the Vanderbilt Gotham Health Center will launch Friday, followed by a site at the DOHMH clinic in Corona, Queens on Saturday. By the end of this week, a total of five 24/7 vaccination sites across the city will be open, with one location in each borough.

The Citi Field site will eventually scale up to be able to vaccinate approximately 5,000-7,000 eligible New Yorkers per day, building on the City’ s goal to offer one million doses of the vaccine by the end of January. For other sites citywide, eligible New Yorkers can make their vaccine appointments using the City’s Vaccine Finder, which aggregates all vaccination locations open to the eligible public citywide into a single, accessible five-borough network, including City-run sites and private providers.

New Yorkers 75 or older and frontline essential workers such as teachers and education workers, childcare staff, first responders, public safety workers, public transit workers, and other frontline essential workers are now eligible to get the free COVID-19 vaccine. Eligible New Yorkers in Phase 1A or 1B can reserve their appointment by calling 877 – VAX – 4NYC or by visiting nyc.gov/VaccineFinder.

This tool allows New Yorkers to access the vaccine however works for them, at locations they know and trust in their own communities. Eligible New Yorkers who wish to make an appointment over the phone can do so by calling 877 – VAX – 4NYC between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., seven days a week.

Phase 1A priority groups also continue to be eligible for vaccines including healthcare workers and staff with direct patient contact, emergency responders, staff at COVID-19 testing and vaccination locations, home health aides, and long-term care staff and residents, among others.

Velázquez Hosts Town Hall on Small Business Relief

U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez

U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez is hosting a virtual town hall on Wednesday. 

The town hall will focus on small business relief and will feature a panel of experts on the issue. 

The virtual town hall will be held on Zoom. Register online in advance. 

It will take place on Wednesday, January 13 at 4 p.m.

Sanders Holds Event About MLK Jr.

State Senator James Sanders Jr. Photo from nysenate.gov

State Senator James Sanders Jr. is hosting a virtual discussion on Monday about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and the Labor Movement. 

Sanders will be joined by AFT President Randi Weingarten, RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum, and historian and author Dr. Michael Honey to discuss MLK’s legacy and his relationship to the Labor Movement.

The event will be livestreamed to the senator’s Facebook page. 

It will take place on Monday, January 18th at 12 p.m.