The coalition will educate the public on the vaccine and its distribution with a focus on building trust and ensuring equity, especially in underserved communities
KINGSTON, N.Y. – Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan announced the formation of the Ulster County Vaccine Distribution Coalition. Led by Dr. Marc Tack, an infectious disease specialist with more than 20 years of medical experience, the coalition is made up of community leaders with the goal of educating the public in order to build trust and confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine and its distribution process. The committee looks to emphasize focus on underserved populations to ensure a seamless process once the vaccine is readily available to the general public.
“Ensuring we distribute the vaccine safely, quickly, and equitably is the most complex and critical phase of our entire pandemic response. That’s why we are planning extensively now and building a true whole-of-community approach,” Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan said. “While we are still months away from the vaccine being widely available to the public at-large, we are starting the work now to build trust and confidence, ensuring that the public has the information that they need to understand the process and feel safe taking the vaccine.”
“The path back to a normal life starts with vaccines,” Dr. Marc Tack said. “These vaccines were developed, tested, and are made by our neighbors, relatives, and friends. I am looking forward to working with our local medical providers, as well as our religious and community leaders to ensure that Ulster County residents have the information that they need when the vaccine is available to the public.”
This week Pfizer delivered nearly 170,000 Covid-19 vaccines to New York State. Stage 1 vaccination distribution will see vaccines distributed proportionally throughout New York’s 10 regions based on the makeup of each region. Whatever percentage of the state’s healthcare workers any given region holds will determine how much of the vaccine will be sent to that region. It is expected that pending FDA approval, next week a second shipment from Moderna would deliver an additional 346,000 more vaccines to New York. The Mid-Hudson region will receive over 19,000 vaccines in the first round.
Members of the committee include the following:
- Dr. Marc Tack, Infectious Disease Specialist
- Dr. Walter Woodley, Institute for Family Health
- Dr. Marta Sanchez, Institute for Family Health
- Mariel Fiori, Editor La Voz Magazine
- Beth Albright, Family of Woodstock
- Susan Koppenhaver, Director of the Ulster County Office for the Aging
- Estela Aquino-Woych, New York State Nurses Association
- Lauri Naccarato, New York State United Teachers
- Pastor Jim Childs, Pointe of Praise Church
- Pastor Denise Younger, New Testament Church of Jesus Christ in Ellenville
- Diana Lopez, Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson
- Ulster County Jewish Federation Representative
For additional information and to find out how to get involved, please email UCVDC@co.ulster.ny.us(link sends e-mail).