Supervisor Gerry Siller says a COVID-19 vaccine POD may be coming to Shelter Island — possibly as soon as this Friday — and he is encouraging people who are eligible under the state’s criteria to provide their names and contact information to the Town in the event that shots become available at a local immunization site.
“If you’re not on the list please call up the Senior Center and get yourself on the list,” Siller said at Tuesday’s Town Board work session.
He reiterated the message in a phone call Wednesday and said the Town is consulting with Stony Brook Medicine to set up a local point of distribution as early as this Friday, February 26 from 9 AM to 6 PM at the Shelter Island School.
To join, send an email to sara.mundy@shelterislandtown.us or call the Senior Center at 631-749-1059. If the phone lines are busy, try again. The Town has assigned additional staff to handle the expected call volume, Siller said.
Who is eligible
Anyone age 65+ is eligible to receive vaccinations under the state’s criteria for Phase 1 A; certain public-facing workers (emergency responders, teachers, restaurant workers, for example) fall under Phase 1-B; and New Yorkers age 16 and older fall under Phase 1C if they have these health conditions:
- Cancer (current or in remission, including 9/11-related cancers)
- Chronic kidney disease
- Pulmonary Disease, including but not limited to, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma (moderate-to-severe), pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and 9/11 related pulmonary diseases
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities including Down Syndrome
- Heart conditions, including but not limited to heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, or hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) including but not limited to solid organ transplant or from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, use of other immune weakening medicines, or other causes
- Severe Obesity (BMI 40 kg/m2), Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell disease or Thalassemia
- Type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus
- Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
- Neurologic conditions including but not limited to Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia
- Liver disease
Find the latest criteria on the state vaccine website.
Town will assign appointments
Should all go as planned, the Town will be assigning appointments on Thursday for Friday’s distribution at the Shelter Island School. Appointments will be scheduled from about 8 AM to 6 PM. The school superintendent has announced that classes will be conducted remotely on Friday to make way for the vaccination program.
Siller, who has been working closely with other Town officials to set up this local POD, says appointments will be assigned in order of eligibility with seniors age 65+ receiving first appointments; followed by essential workers (including first responders, teachers, and other public facing workers); followed by those of all ages who qualify due to medical conditions.
If any doses remain, the Town will call anyone remaining on a waitlist being developed should requests for appointments exceed supply.
Must agree to second dose March 18
In order to accept an appointment, you must commit to receiving the second dose on Thursday, March 18.
Once you’re contacted with an appointment time, the Town will provide you with any required forms and give you a list of information that you should bring along.
Please DO NOT show up at the school without an appointment; you will not be permitted to enter. All those arriving for appointments must wear masks and practice social distancing.
The Town has been working for weeks to bring a vaccine POD to the Island, given the concentration of seniors living here and the reluctance of Islanders to leave this place with few novel coronavirus cases to travel for vaccines to places with more widespread COVID-19.
About 400 people had asked to be included in the list as of Wednesday, Siller said.
Volunteers sought
Some people may be unable to drive themselves to their appointments, or need other assistance. If you are able to volunteer to help with driving or other functions relating to this effort, send an email to Sara Mundy at sara.mundy@shelterislandtown.us with “I can volunteer” in the subject line.
On Tuesday, Deputy Supervisor Amber Brach-Williams noted that is also important for anyone who is on the list but has already gotten a vaccine to please call and remove their name from the list.
