NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced New York State will spend $15 million to promote vaccine outreach in underserved communities.
According to the governor, the state will focus outreach efforts on 117 ZIP codes with low vaccination rates and increasing COVID cases.
Cuomo notes about 79% of the ZIP codes are located within the five boroughs and on Long Island.
“We know where this is happening and where this is spreading,” the governor said Monday.
The $15 million will be used to strengthen communication and expand public education, among other efforts. The state is also launching a new ad campaign to encourage residents to get their shots.
“COVID-19 exposed longstanding inequities in our society, and we've seen evidence of that in both the positivity rate and the vaccination rate in communities that were hardest hit by the virus,” Cuomo said. “New York is pulling out all the stops to get shots in arms, and this budget funding will help us target outreach efforts in the state's most vulnerable communities to make sure that everyone is able to get vaccinated.”
The Hispanic Federation and the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies will each received $5.5 million for community-based outreach efforts. The state will also give $1 million to both the New York Immigration Coalition and the Asian American Federation, Charles B. Wang Community Center, APICHA Community Health Center to do the same.
The news came as the governor also announced that 75% of all New Yorkers statewide are now fully vaccinated.
Cuomo says that while the news is good, 25% of the population is still at risk, especially as the Delta variant surges throughout the country.
“The vaccines are working. Only 0.15% of vaccinated New Yorkers have been infected by the COVID Delta variant,” Cuomo said. “The vaccines work. They work. And it's proven in the numbers. Those who are vaccinated reduce the risk of hospitalization by 94%.”
The funding for the outreach efforts was recommended to the governor by the New York Vaccine Equity Task Force.
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