NY foots $15M to promote vaccines in ‘hard-hit’ areas, Rochester ZIP code on the list

Andrew Hyman

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — New York State Monday announced a new effort to promote the COVID-19 vaccine in areas that have been "hardest hit" by the virus.

The state is giving $15 million to several community organizations to expand public education and improve community outreach to try and boost vaccination numbers in ZIP codes that have low vaccination rates, but high virus rates.

Governor Cuomo said the state is eyeing a total of 117 ZIP codes, including the 14608 ZIP, which is the Brown Square neighborhood. The Finger Lakes Vaccine Hub shows about 47.8% of the eligible population in that ZIP code have had at least one dose of the vaccine. Monroe County COVID data shows its had more than 41 reported cases within the last month,

A majority of the ZIP codes are in the NYC/Long Island area. FLVH data shows the lowest vaccination rate for a Monroe County ZIP code is 14614, which is near the Brown Square neighborhood, its rate is 28.5%.

Organizations include the Hispanic Federation, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, New York Immigration Coalition, and the Asian American Federation, Charles B. Wang Community Center, APICHA Community Health Center. Cuomo said some of these organizations will subcontract with other organizations.

Cuomo said the effort is essentially a "one on one" effort to increase the vaccination rate.

[News10NBC]