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The Elmont Senior Center in Nassau County is providing others with COVID booster and a flu shot with its cellular vaccination van. Chantée Lans has more.
OCEANSIDE, Long Island (WABC) – A cellular vaccination van on Long Island is now giving others COVID booster and a flu shot.
Roll up your sleeve to get a double touch of the purpose of the Elmont Senior Center.
“I had my COVID in that arm in my left arm and the flu in my arm,” Deirdre Evans-Williams said.
The vaxmobile, which launched 18 months ago at the height of the pandemic, began offering loose COVID vaccines to underserved areas of Long Island.
“The vaxmobile has distributed over 13,000 COVID vaccines to other people who would otherwise likely have difficulty and demanding situations getting to a pharmacy, some other local facility that can administer the vaccine,” said Mount Sinai South Nassau President Dr. Anna S. Adhi Sharma.
The vaxmobile, which is funded through the Federal City of Hempstead Care Act and controlled through Mount Sinai South Nassau, is now expanding to include the flu vaccine.
“It’s important. Be afraid to get a flu shot,” said Hempstead City Supervisor Don Clavin.
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In the coming weeks, the cellular medical unit will arrive at senior centers in Franklin Square, Valley Stream, Levitown, Merrick, Uniondale and Bellmore.
“I must not be in poor health and because my husband is immunocompromised, I don’t want him to be in poor health because I am in poor health,” Evans-Williams said.
Evans-Williams and her husband Selwyn have taken theirs.
“I recently had a core transplant, after a transplant and I didn’t have any immune formula,” Selwyn Williams said. “And if I hadn’t won the vaccines, I could have health problems from anything, anyone, and I would have died. “
The flu vaccines presented are quadrivalent vaccines, which are the most common, as well as the maximum dose for the elderly who are at the highest risk of complications from the flu.
According to Mount Sinai South Nassau, there are between 30,000 and 50,000 flu deaths annually.
“I inspire everyone to pass out, roll up their sleeves, vaccinate themselves, their circle of family and neighbors,” Sharma said.
The president of Mount Sinai South Nassau says the purpose is to end up in the emergency room.
For a complete list of vax cell phone dates and locations, you can visit the Town of Hempstead website.
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