Marist College Serving as COVID-19 Vaccine Site
Marist College is now a designated COVID-19 vaccine location. Along with three other colleges, Marist will serve as a pop-up site for New York’s mass roll-out of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine starting March 5.
The former art building located on 51 Fulton Street.
On March 4, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced three new short term mass vaccination sites that will administer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Along with Marist, SUNY Genesee in Genesee County and James Community College in Cattaraugus County will also serve as vaccine sites between March 5-10.
According to a New York State press release, New York State is expecting nearly 164,800 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine to be delivered this week. Each site is expecting to administer 3,500 doses of the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine. New York State is hoping to distribute vaccines to residents in areas that have been short on supplies up until now.
“Marist has had a long history of successful partnerships with the State and County governments and related organizations in supporting initiatives to better our Hudson River Valley community. We are especially pleased to be able to do so in the COVID-19 pandemic. This kind of engagement is at the heart of our mission and values, which prize community and commitment to service,” Executive Vice President, Geoffrey Brackett said.
The temporary vaccine site at Marist will be located on 51 Fulton Street, in the former art building. This is a New York State vaccine site and all elements of the process are managed by the State and its medical partner, Westchester Medical Center. “The College itself does not control any of the vaccines nor does it have the ability to make appointments for members of our community,” Brackett said.
As well as providing a location on 51 Fulton Street, the college will support the operations over the vaccination period with security and information technology. Brackett said several members of the Marist community, including students and faculty from the School of Science are lending their time and expertise as volunteers.
“It's great to have an opportunity to help make this process easier for everyone and be involved in such an important milestone with COVID-19,” Justine Kraus ‘21, said. She is majoring in biomedical sciences and plans to volunteer at the pop-up vaccination site.
Kraus said Marist reached out to students in the School of Science to volunteer with the check-in process, in addition to working as scribes, temperature screeners and handicap assistants. They also have volunteer positions for observation monitors, which volunteers will monitor patients post vaccination.
“It's definitely common for students in the Science Department to be volunteers to help the community in various ways. We are constantly volunteering and shadowing doctors at hospitals, helping out when we can.”
Brackett said he is particularly proud of how the Marist team quickly responded to the request from New York State to provide this vaccination site, in addition to the important work to successfully launch the on-ground start of the Spring 2021 semester.
“Everyone involved is very happy to lend their time to this important initiative for the health of the community,” Brackett said.