Senator Samra Brouk Calls for Independent Living Communities in Region to Receive On-Site Vaccinations

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 2021

Media contact:
Jenna McDavid, Communications Manager
mcdavid@nysenate.gov
585-210-3343

Senator Samra Brouk Calls for Independent Living Communities in Region to Receive On-Site Vaccinations

Rochester, NY -- Today, Senator Samra Brouk asked local leaders at the Finger Lakes COVID-19 Vaccine Hub to prioritize residents and staff at Independent Living Communities to receive on-site vaccinations as soon as the vaccine supply increases.

“We’ve received an increasing number of calls and emails from constituents who are concerned that their elderly family members living in independent living communities  have been left out of the on-site vaccination distribution effort,” said Senator Brouk. “Today I asked local leaders to prioritize on-site COVID-19 vaccination distribution at the independent living communities that have been left out of this first round of on-site vaccination distribution. This would be an important step in protecting residents and staff and furthering our goals of vaccinating our most vulnerable communities, especially in anticipation of these facilities opening to visitors in the future.”

Independent living communities are, in many cases, congregate homes for older adults in our community. Many older adults and their family members have reached out to the Senator sharing the difficulties they have had accessing online vaccination sign-ups; residents also often lack the transportation or transportation assistance needed to get a vaccine at a community hub site. While these seniors may not need the same degree of intensive care that is provided at nursing homes, they are still people in their 70s, 80s, and even 90s, who are attempting to navigate a vaccine appointment sign-up system that has been challenging for many.

Senator Brouk looks forward to working in collaboration with state and local officials, healthcare leaders, independent living providers, and families in the community to ensure that this population has equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

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New York State Senator Samra Brouk (pronounced Sah-mra Br-uuk) represents the incredibly diverse 55th Senate District, stretching from the southern shores of Lake Ontario, through Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts, and south to Finger Lakes wine country. It includes the towns of Victor, East Bloomfield, West Bloomfield, Richmond, Bristol, South Bristol, Canadice, and Naples in Ontario County and the towns of Rush, Mendon, Pittsford, Perinton, Penfield, East Rochester, and Irondequoit, plus the east side of the City of Rochester in Monroe County. Senator Brouk serves as the Chair of the Mental Health Committee and sits on Health, Education, Elections, Women’s Issues, Aging, and Alcoholism and Substance Abuse committees.