Spring Valley and Monsey have the lowest COVID-19
vaccination rates in Rockland County, with only about 7% of their populations
protected, according to data from the county.
County Executive Ed Day called those figures “shocking” and
pointed to a “clear disparity and inequality that has been playing out in the
vaccine process, which is largely reliant on having a computer to sign
up."
Lawmakers pointed to the technology gap as a main cause of
the disparity and called community clinics important pieces to the solution. A
clinic in Spring Valley at the MLK Center is aiming to vaccinate 500 people on
Thursday and Friday.
Starting March 17, the county can vaccinate any eligible
populations and plan on using their supply to fill the gap.
"We have already begun outreach efforts to other
locations and possible host sites and this is in addition to direct outreach to
eligibility groups already,” says Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert, Rockland’s
health commissioner.