KINGSTON, NY - Members of the UC Legislature sent a letter to Governor Cuomo today confirming that Ulster County stands ready to partner with the state to serve as a Vaccine Distribution Center at the Kate Walton Field House at the Kingston High School. The Ulster County site has been up and running for several weeks with the capability of safely and effectively administering up to 50,000 vaccines per month when an adequate supply of vaccine becomes available.  

Last week, Governor Cuomo announced vaccination distribution sites would be opened in March in Buffalo, Rochester, Albany and Yonkers with each estimated to deliver 1,000 vaccines a day. Legislators pointed out that Ulster County is already set up to administer twice that many at the current facility, and stated that delays and expenses associated with setting up a new site elsewhere in the state could be avoided by using this already successfully established site. 

Just Tuesday morning, Cuomo announced the opening of sites at York College in Queens and Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn. In their letter the Legislature reasoned that Kingston is centrally located in the Hudson Valley, midway between Albany and New York City, and with a facility accessible by public transportation located 2 short miles from Thruway Exit 19. The nearest sites are Albany (+/- 60 miles) and Westchester (+/- 95 miles) with neither site serving zip codes from this area. 

Legislators credited the extensive planning, preparation and expertise of the Ulster County Health, Emergency Management, and Information Services Departments under the leadership of County Executive Ryan in setting up this site and advised the Governor that the facility stands ready to serve Hudson Valley residents on day one. They further noted that in particular, Seniors and underserved rural populations in the region are finding it difficult to schedule a vaccination appointment, and virtually impossible to find one within an hour’s drive. 

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