You are reading

New York City Launches Effort to Vaccinate Homebound Seniors for COVID-19

A senior gets vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson single-dose Covid-19 vaccine in Batavia. (Photo: Darren McGee- Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo)

March 8, 2021 By Allie Griffin

New York City launched an effort last week to vaccinate thousands of homebound seniors for COVID-19.

The city is utilizing its supply of the newly-approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine to bring the shot directly to seniors inside their homes.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is easier to transport because it doesn’t need to be refrigerated at sub-zero temperatures like the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines — and it only requires one shot. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses to be fully effective against the virus.

“Finally we have a vaccine that [protects people] in one shot and a vaccine that’s actually flexible enough that we can use even going door-to-door in a building and not have to worry about the refrigeration issues,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a press briefing Monday.

The vaccination effort for homebound seniors started last week in Far Rockaway, Co-Op City and Brighton Beach. The city will begin vaccinating more homebound seniors in Jamaica and several neighborhoods outside of Queens this week, de Blasio said.

Through the effort, health providers working with the city will vaccinate at least 1,200 people a week, starting next week. As supply increases, the city hopes to ramp up that number to vaccinate about 2,700 seniors a week, de Blasio said.

“This effort is going to continue across the five boroughs very rapidly,” he said. “Now this week, it builds up. Next week, we go to fuller strength and we will be doing at least 1,200 vaccinations a week.”

The goal of the program is to reach every homebound senior in New York City by the end of next month, de Blasio said. There are between 14,000 and 23,000 “fully homebound” seniors across the five boroughs, according to City Hall.

“Our goal is to reach all homebound seniors in this city who want to be vaccinated between this month and next month,” he said. “So, over the next seven weeks or so, we believe we can reach every single one.”

The city is also working with community-based organizations, senior centers and ad-lib retirement communities.

“We believe we can reach literally every homebound senior,” de Blasio said. “We welcome anyone who needs the vaccine to come forward — we are going to come to your door and give you the protection you need.”

Seniors or their loved ones can make an appointment for the homebound vaccine program through the city’s normal vaccination appointment sign-up — by calling 877-VAX-4NYC or visiting vax4nyc.nyc.gov. Queens residents who need help scheduling an appointment for the vaccine can call the Queens Borough President’s Office at 718-286-2680 for assistance.

There is also a special interest form for homebound seniors who want the vaccine. For in-home vaccinations for fully homebound eligible New York City residents, click here to make a request for a call back to further discuss eligibility for the program.

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Queens Distance Runners mark 10 years with milestone marathon at Flushing Meadows

Apr. 24, 2025 By Paulina Albarracin

Runners filled the paths of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park on March 30 for the Queens Marathon, joined by the QDR Half Marathon and 10K events. Since its inception, the Queens Marathon has done more than test endurance—it has celebrated the borough’s diverse communities and encouraged participants to support local businesses and organizations. This year marked a special milestone as the flagship event of Queens Distance Runners (QDR) celebrated its 10th anniversary, reaffirming its place as Queens’ premier race experience and igniting excitement across the scenic park grounds.

“We don’t know who we can trust”: Advocates push for New York For All Act to shield immigrants from ICE enforcement

Apr. 24, 2025 By Jimmy Robles

As deportations keep growing in the communities of New York, the fight to protect the immigrant community from immigration enforcement agencies such as ICE is urging. Even residents with no criminal history or legal status in the United States have become at risk of deportation, causing them to live with constant fear of being separated from their families.

Dirt bike thief strikes twice in Queens, targeting sellers in Fresh Meadows and Corona: NYPD

Police from the 107th Precinct in Fresh Meadows are looking for a suspect who set up a meeting with a 24-year-old man at a BP gas station at 73-15 Parson Blvd. at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15, to buy the victim’s dirt bike.

The two men rode together for a test drive, and when they returned to the Fresh Meadows gas station, the perpetrator pushed the victim off his dirt bike and rode off in an unknown direction, police said Wednesday. The man who was robbed was not injured during the encounter.