BUFFALO, N.Y. — The New York State-run mass COVID vaccination site at the Delavan Grider Community Center opened up on Wednesday for those with appointments.
Buffalo residents living in certain zip codes have been the only ones who have been able to register for appointments since February 24.
The site is part of the state's vaccine equity program, to make sure minority populations have access to the coronavirus vaccine.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz updated the public on Twitter saying that all appointments have been booked at the Delavan Grider Community Center. He says this means that more than 14,000 appointments were booked over the last 24 hours.
Poloncarz had also tweeted that earlier in the morning within 8 minutes of the appointments opening up to all eligible Erie County residents, more than 6,000 appointments were booked. It had been expanded to other with at risk health issues or over 65.
This clinic is booked solid in terms of appointments and it's not clear when another one will be set up by the state and FEMA. However people did tell us what it's been like to try to make appointments in general.
Lydia Sobczyk told us about efforts to get a shot for her 70 year old mother from North Buffalo "Like to get the appointment ? I think it took every day - I don't know it could have been weeks or a month. Took forever honestly. And when they said they were opening up another site - like awesome."
Patricia Johnson of Buffalo added "Everywhere I tried to get an appointment I couldn't get one. So when this opened up it was great."
And Jose Escobar of Buffalo said "My wife made it for me. It was like nine o'clock in the morning I got it for the first day at 1:15 today. So it was pretty fortunate. I had another one in Henrietta on the 26th - that was my fallback one. So once I go this one for today I went ahead and cancelled the one in Henrietta."
Henrietta is a Rochester suburb also holding a clinic like this.
The one in Buffalo is operated by the state and Federal Emergency Management Agency. Neither had anyone available on site who could do an interview about how it was run and any word about when or even if any more appointments would ever open up for any other potential immunization clinic here or anywhere else.
In fact a representative of the state did not want us to speak with anyone - including those in line. But again people we approached were just happy to be there and willing to speak about it with a sense of relief.
Hector Rodriquez of North Buffalo said "It's moving pretty well. Everybody is very helpful in there." And when asked about whether he was relieved in getting the vaccine he said "Oh yeah - absolutely."
This clinic was set up for people in specific Buffalo zip codes with low vaccination rates or for people over 65 or with at risk health conditions elsewhere in Erie County. .
Mark Blue chairs Western New York's vaccination health equity task force.
"We shouldn't have any problem filling any vacant slots for those who are going to be vaccinated," he said, "because we realize with people calling and saying, 'I can't get an appointment,' this is going to be an opportunity to help with all of Erie County as well."
Mark Blue says many workers live in zip codes where vaccination numbers are low.
"We do know that the population of workers are from communities that exist in 14211, 14215, 14208, 14212, 14214 all zip codes of Buffalo, even suburban communities," Blue said." If they are aware of it, if they are vaccinated, then that will curb a lot of what's happening in nursing homes."
If you are going to the Delavan Grider Center for a vaccine, there are a few things you need to bring with you. They include:
- Proof of residency. Individuals must either (1) provide one of the following: State or government-issued ID; consulate ID (if New York address is displayed); Statement from landlord; Current rent receipt or lease; Mortgage records; or (2) provide two of the following: Statement from another person; Current mail; School records.
- Identification. Sufficient identification includes a driver's license, passport, or any legal proof of your date of birth and residency. Minors under the age of 18, a parent or guardian is required to identify the minor.
- Proof of occupation. Depending on your eligibility, proof can include an employee ID card, a letter from an employer or affiliated organization, or a pay stub. Any person who does not have proof of their occupation or priority status cannot be vaccinated.
- NYS Vaccine Form. Individuals must complete the NYS Vaccine Form and bring proof of completion to their appointment. Complete the NYS Vaccine Form here. Print the confirmation page or bring a screenshot indicating you completed the form.
For those who get vaccinated at the center, according to the state, second dose appointments will be scheduled within 5 days of the first dose and will be 21 days after the first vaccination. The second shot will take place at the same place as the first vaccination.