Governor Hochul Announces Re-launch of #Vaxtoschool COVID-19 Vaccine Effort

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the re-launch of #VaxtoSchool, the multi-faceted statewide campaign aimed at increasing COVID-19 vaccination rates among school-aged New Yorkers. The campaign furthers Governor Hochul's commitment to ensuring equitable access to vaccines, and to make the health and well-being of students, teachers and families a top priority.

"As we prepare for the beginning of the school year and the fall season, it is important that we do all we can to protect our youngest New Yorkers," Governor Hochul said. "By breaking down barriers to vaccine access, these partnerships will allow New York State to continue to protect the health and safety of our most vulnerable community members and keep our schools open. The re-launching of our successful #VaxtoSchool campaign will support our Fall Action Plan, and ensure we are getting New Yorkers the resources they need to protect themselves from being seriously ill or hospitalized due to COVID-19."

The #VaxtoSchool campaign, critical resources and materials for parents and guardians of school-aged children and schools are available at ny.gov/vaxtoschool. The site includes vaccine information, and an FAQ for parents and guardians.

Commissioner of Health Dr. Mary T. Bassett said, "Some children face barriers to receiving COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, but thanks to Governor Hochul's leadership, these #VaxForKids partnerships will help ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for children under 12 years of age. As children can catch COVID-19 and develop severe disease, and vaccination remains their best protection against the virus and its variants, I urge all parents and guardians to get their children vaccinated before they head back to school."

SOMOS Community Care Chairman Dr. Ramon Tallaj said, "Today is a major step forward. Like us, our patients are different. Most do not speak English, and many do not trust institutional hospitals or corporate pharmacy chains - but they do trust their family doctors. That's where we come in. Our pediatricians have been treating these kids since birth and our SOMOS network is mobilized to work family by family, over the next few months with hundreds of thousands of parents to make sure that they get their kids vaccinated, to continue the city's recovery - and make sure that the start of school is safe, healthy and uninterrupted. We know are our children are our most precious resource and that this will not be easy, but we thank Governor Hochul and Dr. Bassett for their leadership and partnership."

Inverse Medical Chief Executive Officer Johonniuss Chemweno said, "COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations have recently spiked across the State of New York with new variants. The FDA recently provided approval for 6 months and older for the various MRNA vaccines and will prove too strongly fight against the virus that upended our communities. We have worked diligently in conjunction with Governor Hochul to provide equitable access to care and continue to make an aggressive push to increase access to COVID-19 Vaccines and Testing in concert with Local Health Departments and the State of New York. Through our partnership with Governor Hochul and the Department of Health, it is critical that communities have an opportunity to be a part of our community outreach that has shown a positive trend in increasing vaccination efforts across the State of New York."

Additionally, the state's Instagram channel, VaccinateNY, helps educate school-aged New Yorkers and their families about the COVID-19 vaccine directly. This social media platform provides approachable, interactive content with easy-to-understand vaccine information, prospective content partnerships, #VaxtoSchool social media design contests, and quick video explainers.

The goal is to ensure all New Yorkers have the facts about the COVID-19 vaccine. The New York State Department of Health will also amplify these digital education efforts across all its social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Pop-up vaccination sites are located at the addresses below. SOMOS Community Care will provide vaccinations at locations in New York City and Inverse Medical will provide vaccinations at locations throughout the state. Additional locations may be announced in the future.

Western New York

West Side Community Services - Rock the Block event

61 Vermont Street

Buffalo, NY 14213

Open: Aug. 24, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 5+

Cuba Cultural Center

38 East Main Street

Cuba, NY 14727

Open: Aug. 18, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 6 months+

Cheektowaga Senior Center

3349 Broadway

Cheektowaga, NY 14227

Open: Aug. 25, 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 6 months+

Single Mom's Club Back to School Bookbag Giveaway

Apollo Media Center

1346 Jefferson Avenue

Buffalo, NY 14208

Open: Sept. 3, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 5+

Seneca Babcock Community Association at Schiller Park Senior Center

2057 Genesee Street

Buffalo, NY 14211

Open: Sept. 5, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 5+

Cuba Cultural Center

38 East Main Street

Cuba, NY 14727

Open: Sept. 22, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 6 months+

Cheektowaga Senior Center

3349 Broadway

Cheektowaga, NY 14227

Open: Sept. 22, 2:30 p.m.to 7 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 6 months+

Capital Region

Food Truck Fridays on the Pond

6604 State Route 8

Brant Lake, NY 12815

Open: Aug. 19, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Event Partner: Town of Horicon

Ages: 5+

Doane Stuart School Community

199 Washington Ave.

Rensselaer, NY 12144

Open: Sept. 23, 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 6 months+

Mid-Hudson

Bowen Memorial Baptist Church

14 North Columbus Ave

Mount Vernon, NY 10553

Open: Aug. 17, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 6 months+

Boys & Girls Club- New Rochelle 5th Annual Back to School Drive

79 7th Street

New Rochelle, NY 10801

Open: Aug. 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 5+

Pilgrim Baptist Church

80 N. Franklin Street

Nyack, NY 10960

Open: Aug. 20, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 5+

Greater Centennial A.M.E. Zion Church Back to School event

114 West 4th St.

Mount Vernon, NY 10550

Open: Aug. 27, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 5+

Ulster County Local Health Department

Hudson Valley Mall (Old Best Buy near the Target)

1500 Ulster Avenue, Kingston NY 12401

Open: Aug. 27, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 6 months+

Bowen Memorial Baptist Church

14 North Columbus Ave

Mount Vernon, NY 10553

Open: Sept. 7, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 6 months+

Ulster County Local Health Department

Hudson Valley Mall (Old Best Buy near the Target)

1500 Ulster Avenue, Kingston NY 12401

Open: Sept. 10, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 6 months+

Larchmont/Mamaroneck Hunger Task Force

955 Mamaroneck Avenue

Larchmont, NY 10543

Open: Sept. 13, 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 6 months+

Bowen Memorial Baptist Church

14 North Columbus Ave

Mount Vernon, NY 10553

Open: Sept. 14, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 6 months+

Salvation Army - Port Jervis

99 Ball St

Port Jervis, NY 12771

Open: Sept. 17, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 5+

Finger Lakes

Ovid Federated Church

7137 North Main Street

Ovid, NY 14521

Open: Aug. 18, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 6 months+

Ovid Federated Church

7137 North Main Street

Ovid, NY 14521

Open: Aug. 19, 12 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 6 months+

Overdose Awareness Day

Austin Park 15 Jefferson Ave.

Batavia, NY 14020

Open: Aug. 24, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 12 months+

Back to School Resources Fair and Carnival

Flower City School No. 54

36 Otis Street

Rochester, NY 14606

Open: Aug. 27, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Event Partner: Flower City School No. 54 and Cameron Community Ministries

Ages: 5+

Ovid Federated Church

7137 North Main Street

Ovid, NY 14521

Open: Sept. 15, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 6 months+

Ovid Federated Church

7137 North Main Street

Ovid, NY 14521

Open: Sept. 16, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 6 months+

New York City

Harlem Week Children's Festival

Howard Bennet Playground

135th Street and North Side Between Lenox and 5th Ave

New York, NY 10037

Open: Aug. 20 and Aug. 21, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Vaccine type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages 5+

Krab Queenz Harlem - Single Parents Back to School Giveaway

100 West 125 Street

New York, NY 10027

Open: Aug. 29, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 5+

Queens Borough Hall

120 -55 Queens Blvd.

Kew Gardens NY 11415

Open: Aug. 29, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 6 months+

Bethany Baptist Church Community Booster Event

460 Marcus Garvey Blvd

Brooklyn, NY 11216

Open: Sept. 10, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 5+

First Step Medical P.C.

705 East 180th Street

Bronx, NY 10457

Open: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Event Partner: First Step Medical P.C.

Ages: 6 months to 4 years

One Hanson Place Pediatrics PLLC

1 Hanson Place

Brooklyn, NY 11243

Open: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Event Partner: One Hanson Place Pediatrics PLLC

Ages: 6 months to 4 years

National Pediatric Center

102-11 Roosevelt Avenue

Corona, NY 11368

Open: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Event Partner: National Pediatric Center

Ages: 6 months to 4 years

Pediatrics 2000 II Pediatric Center

3332 Broadway

New York, NY 10031

Open: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Event Partner: Pediatrics 2000 II Pediatric Center

Ages: 6 months to 4 years

North Country

St. Andre Bessette Outreach Center Children's

12 Holmstead Park

Malone, NY 12953

Open: Aug. 20, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Event Partner: Albany County Local Health Department

Ages: 5+

Central New York

East Hill Family Medical

31 Seminary Street

Auburn, NY 13021

Open: Aug. 19, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Event Partner: Cayuga County Local Health Department

Ages: 6 months - 17 years

Appointments: click here

East Hill Family Medical

31 Seminary Street

Auburn, NY 13021

Open: Aug. 20, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Event Partner: Cayuga County Local Health Department

Ages: 6 months - 17 years

Appointments: click here

Cayuga County Local Health Department

Fingerlakes Mall

1579 Clark Street Rd,

Auburn, NY 13022

Open: Aug. 23, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 5+

Cayuga County Local Health Department

Fingerlakes Mall

1579 Clark Street Rd,

Auburn, NY 13022

Open: Sept. 7, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 5+

Cayuga County Local Health Department

Fingerlakes Mall

1579 Clark Street Rd,

Auburn, NY 13022

Open: Sept. 21, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Vaccine Type: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Ages: 5+

Excelsior Pass Plus

Excelsior Pass Plus is a secure, digital copy of a person's COVID-19 vaccination record or negative test results. Anyone who has received a COVID-19 vaccine or negative COVID-19 test results in the State of New York is eligible for an Excelsior Pass Plus, including children under 18 years old. Parents and legal guardians may retrieve and store Passes on behalf of children or minors under legal guardianship. Learn more about the Excelsior Pass Plus here.

Governor Hochul's Fall Action Plan

The state is actively preparing a Fall Action Plan to address potential pandemic surges later this year. Planning is being conducted in consultation with health policy experts and will also be informed by the voices of New Yorkers through a public opinion survey conducted by the state in mid-June that surveyed residents on issues related to the pandemic.

Fall planning will focus on:

• A Return to School strategy, including distributing three million tests to schools before the beginning of the school year.
• Getting more New Yorkers vaccinated and boosted, including the ability to stand up mass vaccination sites again if the need arises.
• Encouraging New Yorkers to test early, test often.
• Promoting more access to treatment and therapeutics, including a recently launched statewide hotline for New Yorkers who may not have immediate access to healthcare professionals, as well as an ongoing commitment to support New Yorkers struggling with the effects of Long COVID.
• Readying stockpile of personal protective equipment, including 20 million tests ready to deploy where needed.
• Strengthening our hospital systems, including preparations to ramp up the State's Surge Operations Center in the event they are needed.