Hospital Teams Up with Minority Leader Matteo, Council Member Borelli, Assembly Member Reilly to Offer Vaccine to Residents
May 17, 2021 – To further protect Staten Islanders from COVID-19, Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) partnered with New York City Council Minority Leader Steven Matteo, Council Member Joseph Borelli, and New York State Assembly Member Michael Reilly to set up a pop-up vaccination site this past weekend at the hospital’s immediate care/primary care/walk-in center, located at 4360 Hylan Boulevard.
“We want to thank Minority Leader Matteo, Council Member Borelli and Assembly Member Reilly for joining with us to further protect Staten Islanders from COVID-19,” RUMC President and Chief Executive Officer, Daniel J. Messina, PhD, FACHE, said. “Every person who rolls up their sleeve for a shot is another person doing their part to protect themselves, their loved ones, and helping us all get back to our normal lives.”
Residents who came to the center received the single dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Between Saturday, May 15 and Sunday, May 16, when the pop-up site was in operation, over 20 people were vaccinated.
“From the onset of this pandemic, RUMC has been there for Staten Island, fighting to save lives and working with us to get vaccines to people as quickly as possible,” Minority Leader Matteo said. “I am proud to partner with them on this latest pop-up vaccination site. This site gives Staten Islanders the opportunity to protect their loved ones and themselves from COVID-19. Let’s get this borough moving again.”
Over 16,000 individuals have been vaccinated by RUMC since the hospital began administering COVID-19 vaccinations to the public in January. Last week, Richmond University Medical Center received authorization from the New York State Department of Health to now provide the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to anyone 12 years of age and older. This authorization from the state followed approval of the Pfizer vaccine by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for teens 12 to 15 years of age. Appointments for vaccination at RUMC, located at 355 Bard Avenue in West Brighton, can be made by calling 718-818-3193. Individuals vaccinated at the hospital will receive the two dose Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
“We are now at a point in the vaccination process where we are vaccinating different generations in the same household and protecting entire families,” Messina said. “The efficacy of these vaccines is enabling all of us to move closer to resuming our normal lives and be with one another safely. I continue to urge everyone to get vaccinated when you have the opportunity.”
While staff continue to administer the COVID-19 vaccine, RUMC’s medical staff also continues to care for individuals struggling with severe symptoms and illness as a result of the virus. Since the pandemic began last spring, RUMC has treated and discharged nearly 3,900 COVID-19 positive individuals.
