- Fire
- State Fire Service, including firefighters and investigators (professional and volunteer)
- Local Fire Service, including firefighters and investigators (professional and volunteer)
- Police and Investigations
- State Police, including Troopers
- State Park Police, DEC Police, Forest Rangers
- SUNY Police
- Sheriffs' Offices
- County Police Departments and Police Districts
- City, Town, and Village Police Departments
- Transit or other Public Authority Police Departments
- State Field Investigations, including DMV, SCOC, Justice Center, DFS, IG, Tax, OCFS, SLA
- Public Safety Communications
- Emergency Communication and PSAP Personnel, including dispatchers and technicians
- Other Sworn and Civilian Personnel
- Court Officer
- Other Police or Peace Officer
- Support or Civilian Staff for Any of the Above Services, Agencies, or Facilities
Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine at HSS
Protect yourself, your loved ones and your community.
HSS is following all New York State Department of Health guidelines to distribute our supply of the COVID-19 vaccine. These guidelines include strict criteria that outline who is eligible to receive it.
Currently, we are vaccinating our staff who work directly with patients or are otherwise on the front line of care (Phase 1A).
HSS is also vaccinating Phase 1B populations, following new guidance from New York State. This includes the following groups:
- People age 65 and older
- Public-facing grocery store workers
- State DOCCS Personnel, including correction and parole officers
- Local Correctional Facilities, including correction officers
- Local Probation Departments, including probation officers
- State Juvenile Detention and Rehabilitation Facilities
- Local Juvenile Detention and Rehabilitation Facilities
- P-12 school or school district faculty or staff (includes all teachers, substitute teachers, student teachers, school administrators, paraprofessional staff, and support staff including bus drivers)
- Contractor working in a P-12 school or school district (including contracted bus drivers)
- In-person college faculty and instructors
- Employees or support staff of licensed, registered, approved or legally exempt group childcare setting
- Licensed, registered, approved or legally exempt group childcare provider
- Airline and airport employee
- Passenger railroad employee
- Subway and mass transit employee (i.e., MTA, LIRR, Metro North, NYC Transit, Upstate transit)
- Ferry employee
- Port Authority employee
- Public bus employee
- Individual living in a homeless shelter where sleeping, bathing or eating accommodations must be shared with individuals and families who are not part of your household
- Individual working (paid or unpaid) in a homeless shelter where sleeping, bathing or eating accommodations must be shared by individuals and families who are not part of the same household, in a position where there is potential for interaction with shelter residents
“
The vaccine, which has only been available to us for a couple of weeks, is the light that we begin to see after this long tunnel. It is the only thing that will enable us to get to the other side of the pandemic.
”
Louis A. Shapiro
President and CEO
How to get a vaccine at HSS
Appointments required
If you are in one of the eligible groups listed above and live or work in New York, you can book an appointment online. You will need to answer several questions to confirm that you are able to receive the vaccine at HSS. These questions address your eligibility, medical consent and COVID status. If you meet the criteria, you will then be able to choose a time for your appointment. Please note that HSS is offering the Pfizer vaccine at this time, which is administered in two doses 19 to 23 days apart. It is critical for the effectiveness of the vaccine that you receive both doses. Please choose an appointment time so that you will be able to return for your second dose.
Screening
After you book the appointment, we will ask that you complete your appointment pre-check through MyHSS. You do not need to be a current HSS patient to use MyHSS. We encourage both patients and non-patients to sign up for MyHSS. A faster check-in process will ensure a quicker visit and limit your interactions with staff and other visitors.
Appointment location and duration
HSS will be administering the vaccine in the Belaire Building (courtyard and ground floor) at 525 East 71st Street. The appointment will take approximately 1 hour. This includes the wait time in our observation area for 15 to 30 minutes after receiving your vaccine. Even though side effects are rare, this step is necessary for your safety.
Safety
Everyone coming to HSS for a vaccine is required to wear a face mask and perform hand hygiene upon arrival. Please maintain social distance while at HSS.
Identification and verification
When you check in for your appointment, you will be asked to provide proof of eligibility, identity and residency. Please bring proof of your identity and age (i.e. driver's license), proof of NY residency (i.e.driver's license or utility bill) and proof of your employment, if applicable. Proof of employment can be an employer identification card, a letter from your employer or a recent paystub.
Insurance
It is not required to have insurance to receive the vaccine. If you do have medical insurance, you will be asked to provide your insurance information. Please bring your insurance ID. There will be no out-of-pocket costs charged to you, whether you have insurance or not.
Parking
Parking at HSS is only available for patients. Nearby parking garages are available in our neighborhood directory. It is highly recommended that alternate modes of transportation are considered if you are coming to HSS for a vaccine only.
Why should you get the COVID-19 vaccine?
It is safe. The vaccine has been tested on many thousands of individuals, with few reports of side effects. When 1 out of every 1,000 Americans has died from the virus, the mild side effects and rare severe allergic reactions to the vaccine (less than 1 in 45,000) are less concerning.
It is effective. Studies have shown that the vaccine is 95% effective against the COVID-19 virus.
It is the only way to end the pandemic. The best way to end the spread of this disease is if everyone who is able to receive the vaccine signs up. Now is the time to take action that will put the pandemic behind us so we can start getting back to feeling safe, being safe and living our lives as we once did.
Have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine?
Please join us for this free webinar where HSS experts will present on and answer your questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Thank you to all who are supporting this process and taking advantage of the opportunity to receive the vaccine when it becomes available to you.