We recognize State and City officials are mobilizing vaccination resources with speed and urgency. However, in their earnest phased distribution, New York’s elderly, many of whom do not even have an email address, let alone can make an online vaccine appointment or have the means to travel to a vaccination site, are being lost in the gap.
Council Member Fernando Cabrera states the problem most accurately (press release issued by his office on February 4, 2021):
“We’ve learned that the City currently has no system to get vaccines to seniors who cannot travel to vaccine sites, even with free transportation, because of their frailty.”
That is the reality of our 99-home bound and very frail seniors living in our Lower East Side Section 202 senior residence at 80 Rutgers Slip. Sadly, some are contracting and/or have died from the Covid-19 virus, a reality which prompts Two Bridges to call up Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio to attend to this glaring omission. It can almost be described as a blatant indifference to a population experiencing the highest infection rate in the New York State. The statistics of this age group should alarm those responsible for providing Covid-19 related services; The fatality rate of NYS persons from age 60 to 90 years of age and older is 87%.
At this press briefing, Two Bridges will call upon both Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio to act with urgency in providing the needed vaccines to this senior population in their homes – however the means to do it. Mobile units with medical personnel might be deployed, as might local municipal hospitals and health centers. For the Lower East Side, this would-be NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health- Gouverneur, Betances Health Center and NENA – Ryan Health. “It is especially because of their frailty, mixed with freezing temperatures and inclement weather, that they are homebound and immobile and are at great risk should they travail to a vaccination site” said Mr. Papa, President, Two Bridges.
Two Bridges is supported in this effort by Hamilton-Madison House, the social service provider to the seniors in the building and GOLES, a Lower East Side advocacy organization which is no stranger to calling attention and getting effective responses to the desperate needs of low-income families. We are hoping our message will resonate with other senior residences and agencies in the five boroughs who are warmly welcomed to join us.
OTHER COMMUNITY ENDORSEMENTS (In formation)
GOLES – (“Good Old Lower East Side”)
Two Bridges Tower Resident Association
Highbridge Community Development Corporation
Alfred E. Smith Houses Resident Association, Inc.
LESReady!
Press Conference to be held via Zoom. Passcode: 4357
Date: February 10, 2021
Time: 11:00 am Eastern
