January 11, 2021

With the state’s expansion of COVID-19 vaccine eligibility this morning, many residents in Phase 1B have inquired about where they can get their vaccination. The state will open a statewide vaccination hotline (1-833-697-4829) at 4 p.m. today where eligible residents can schedule a vaccination appointment.

We continue to ask residents for patience, as the governor announced last week vaccinating all New Yorkers in Phase 1A and 1B will likely take 14 weeks, but no one will miss their shot.

We encourage you to check http://www.dutchessny.gov/covidvaccine for updates on available appointments at the County-operated PODs, when more vaccine is made available to Dutchess County. There you can access the state’s “Am I Eligible?” online tool, which will list local providers offering the vaccine, when it becomes available.

You can also sign up to receive emails about Coronavirus Information & Vaccine Updates by using the blue button at www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/DBCH/2019-Novel-Coronavirus.htm

There are no appointments currently available at the points of dispensing (PODs) established by Dutchess County Government due the limited number of doses made available to the County from New York State.

www.dutchessNY.gov

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro announced the County’s Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH) has established initial Point of Dispensing (POD) sites where the County will administer COVID-19 vaccinations to eligible residents as vaccine is available. These sites will be open next week by appointment only from 10am to 4pm for eligible individuals in Phase 1a and 1b as determined by New York State’s Phased Distribution Plan. Appointment availability is based on vaccine allocation provided by New York State.

Initial DBCH Points of Dispensing (PODs) will be operated at the following locations:

Wednesday, January 13th
Dutchess County Behavioral & Community Health – Mental Health Campus
230 North Road, Poughkeepsie
North Road Appointment Registration Link:
https://apps.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?DateID=4330

Friday, January 15th
Former JCPenney store location
Poughkeepsie Galleria
2001 South Road, Poughkeepsie
JCPenney Appointment Registration Link:
https://apps.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?DateID=4333

Saturday, January 16th
Dover Middle/High School
2368 Route 22, Dover Plains
Dover Appointment Registration Link:
https://apps.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?DateID=4334

Additionally, DBCH is partnering with Northern Dutchess Hospital for vaccinations to be available at the Health Annex at Northern Dutchess Hospital located at 107 Montgomery Street in Rhinebeck. Under New York State’s phased distribution process, individuals in Phase 1a are currently eligible for vaccinations. Phase 1a includes hospital staff, direct care providers and emergency responders.

Governor Cuomo announced late yesterday that individuals in Phase 1b are eligible for vaccination starting Monday, January 11th. Phase 1b includes:

· People 75 and older
· Teachers and education workers
· First responders
· Public safety workers
· Public transit workers

County Executive Molinaro said, “Though New York State’s distribution of COVID-19 vaccine has been slow and sorely lacking, Dutchess County has planned for weeks how to best dispense the doses we do receive efficiently and effectively. The opening of these initial Points of Dispensing sites is the next step in ensuring eligible residents have access to this life-saving vaccine.”

Dutchess County’s PODs are in addition to current locations, including local hospitals, that are dispensing vaccine to eligible priority groups, and the expanded location network being established by New York State. Residents can utilize the State’s online Am I Eligible? tool to determine if they are currently eligible for vaccinations and, if eligible, will see a list of the various locations in the State’s network.

Current vaccine supply is very limited and Governor Cuomo announced on Friday that distribution to Phase 1a and 1b is expected to take 14 weeks based on current projected vaccine availability. Eligible residents should anticipate it may be several weeks before they can get an appointment as demand far exceeds supply.

County Executive Molinaro said, “Dutchess County stands ready to quickly dispense each and every dose of vaccine we receive into the arms of eligible residents. We encourage residents who are currently eligible to get vaccinated, and we urge patience as this process will take time due to limited vaccine availability. We must continue to all work together to stop the spread of coronavirus – so keep wearing a mask, washing those hands and physical distancing, then get vaccinated as it becomes available to you.”

For more information, visit http://www.dutchessny.gov/covidvaccine.

www.dutchessNY.gov

In his latest briefing, Dr. Anil Vaidian, Commissioner of the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health, discusses the current priority groups New York State has authorized to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the establishments of points of dispensing as vaccine eligibility expands, and the importance of frontline responders to get vaccinated. More information about local COVID-19 vaccine distribution is available on Dutchess County Government’s Vaccine Information webpage.

www.dutchessNY.gov

The increase in infection rate post-holidays is here and is problematic in and of itself, but when combined with the newly found UK strain in NYS and with the federal government’s refusal to contain more cases by instituting common sense testing requirement for international travelers, our work has become more complicated. Even with this new challenge, New York is staying tough, and working with the health care community to ensure hospitals do not become overwhelmed. Remember that we are in a footrace between COVID and the vaccine. It’s as important today as ever that we collectively stay smart and commit to taking the steps necessary to stop the spread. 

Here’s what else you need to know tonight:

1. Total hospitalizations fell slightly to 8,548. Of the 238,550 tests reported yesterday, 17,636, or 7.39 percent, were positive. There were 1,424 patients in ICU yesterday, up 16 from the previous day. Of them, 859 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 197 New Yorkers to the virus. 

2. To date, New York has administered approximately 430,000 vaccine doses. New York hospitals had previously jumped in administering an average of 10,000 doses per day to approximately 30,000 per day. Yesterday, hospitals administered approximately 50,000 doses in one day. This is good progress, but hospitals must do even more. 

3. The Department of Health continues to test for the UK strain of COVID. After an individual in Saratoga County, NY, tested positive for the variant, the Department of Health has undertaken extensive contact tracing efforts. As of today, no other positive cases have been identified of the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 (the official name of the virus that causes COVID-19).

4. SUNY Downstate’s University Hospital successfully administered 100 percent of its weekly COVID-19 vaccine allocation. SUNY hospitals have been especially successful in quickly administering their allocation, and I commend them. It is crucial that hospitals administer the doses they have as fast as they can so we can vaccinate all our health care heroes.  

Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: In January of 2020, New York City performing artist Taylor DeNapoli had a mission for the year—to create a video performance to release on the 17th day of every month of the year, her lucky number. Even though the pandemic heavily impacted the entertainment industry, Taylor met her goal and continued sharing videos of choreographed performances featuring Broadway performers and other New York City artists. On December 17th, 2020, Taylor released her twelfth and final video of her “Video of the Month” series. Watch it here. 

If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe to New York State’s Coronavirus Updates here.

Ever Upward,

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo