Gov. Chooses York as Vaccination Site

In an effort to address healthcare disparity, the Biden Administration and Governor Andrew Cuomo have announced that York College will be a vaccination site in Queens.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on February 10, joined with White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeffrey Zients and White House COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Chair Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith to announce that at the Governor's request, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) “will establish two community-based mass-vaccination sites at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn and York College in Queens - which will serve as a national model for the equitable distribution of the COVID vaccine.”

According to the governor, the York site will be the largest in the state thus far, expecting to vaccinate 3000 people per day in the college’s Health and Physical Education Building (“The Gym”).

The site will open on Wednesday, February 24. The campus is conveniently located near a busy public transportation hub.

“We at York College are happy for the opportunity to serve our borough, city and state in the Herculean task of vaccinating New Yorkers,” said President Berenecea Johnson Eanes. “ I want to thank Governor Cuomo for recognizing York as an important resource, not just as an outstanding institution of higher learning, but also as an important community resource for social justice. We are ready to help in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.”

According to the governor, the sites “will target communities and populations historically underserved by the traditional health care system that were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. By increasing vaccine access in communities where vaccine hesitancy and vaccination rates are lower than other parts of the state, these sites will build on the focus of New York State and the Biden Administration to vaccinate as many people as possible fairly and equitably by creating vaccination venues in settings that people trust through partnerships with community leaders and organizations.”

About York: York College enriches lives and enables students to grow as passionate, engaged learners with the confidence to realize their intellectual and human potential as individuals and global citizens. With more than 50 academic majors, York College attracts students from across the five boroughs of New York City as well as Long Island, Westchester County and internationally. Popular majors include Nursing, Biotechnology, Pre-law, Pre-med, Aviation Business Management and Journalism. Graduate programs include Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physician Assistant Studies, Occupational Therapy, Clinical Trials Management; Aviation, and the Master of Social Work (MSW).