Katko Urges CDC, HRSA To Supply Local Community Health Centers With COVID-19 Vaccines

by Contributor | February 12, 2021 9:14 am

SYRACUSE, NY— Following an announcement this week by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) that they will supply select Federally Qualified Health Center Programs (FQHCs) with COVID-19 vaccines, U.S. Rep. John Katko (NY-24) yesterday urged the agencies to include Syracuse Community Health Center (SCHC) and East Hill Medical Center in the program.

With over 1.5 million cases since March 2019, the pandemic has devastated Central New York. Now, a severe shortage of COVID-19 vaccines is exacerbating the burden on many underserved families. The shortage is evidenced by recent vaccination data in Onondaga County, where as of February 4th, only 14% of the eligible 360,000 adults had been vaccinated. Analysis of this data indicates that access to these vaccine appointments has been disproportionate, with one county-run vaccine site in downtown Syracuse reporting that of 16,593 doses given, 85% of patients were white and 71% lived in the Syracuse suburbs. To address local inequities, Onondaga and Cayuga County have both taken initial steps by setting up pop-up and mobile vaccine clinics in underserved communities.

Locally, SCHS and East Hill serve as the region’s only FQHCs. Together, they operate a combined 28 locations and serve thousands of underserved individuals and families throughout the region. Noting the unique position SCHS and East Hill are in to rectify the vaccine disparity in Central New York, Katko urged the CDC and HRSA to make these centers eligible to receive vaccines directly from the Federal Government.

In a letter to the CDC and HRSA, Katko wrote, “As the Representative of a diverse community, including the City of Syracuse and the City of Auburn, that was hit hard by the Coronavirus pandemic, I cannot understate the importance this new program would have on our region. I write you today, urging the inclusion of the Syracuse Community Health Center and East Hill Medical Center in the program. As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to cause hardship for millions of Americans, it is crucial that we work together to ensure fair access to vaccines for all of our citizens.”

Since the first COVID-19 vaccines were authorized, Katko has worked to support the vaccine rollout in Central New York. He supported pandemic relief legislation which provided funds to accelerate vaccine distribution, has been in constant communication with hospital administrators to discuss distribution and supply issues, and highlighted local concerns in a meeting with FEMA, HHS, and DoD, as well as a meeting with Dr. Anthony Fauci. Additionally, Katko has been a leader on efforts to address longstanding healthcare inequities amid the pandemic.

---

The full text of Rep. Katko’s letter can be found below:

Dear Administrator Espinosa and Director Walensky,

I would like to thank you for your agencies’ continued response efforts to the ongoing pandemic, including the recent announcement on direct vaccine distributions to Federally Qualified Health Center Programs (FQHCs) as a means to ensure equitable access to vaccination. This initiative takes important first steps towards addressing inequity in vaccine distribution by allowing FQHCs to provide vaccinations to underserved and impoverished communities. As the Representative of a diverse community, including the City of Syracuse and the City of Auburn, that was hit hard by the Coronavirus pandemic, I cannot understate the importance this new program would have on our region. I write you today, urging the inclusion of the Syracuse Community Health Center and East Hill Medical Center in the initial phase of the program.

In Central New York, the East Hill Medical Center and Syracuse Community Health Center are two FQHCs that provide essential care at a combined 28 locations to thousands of my constituents. With over 1.5 million cases since last March, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have devastated Central New York and a severe shortage of vaccine supply to the region have exacerbated the burden for many families in desperate need. The shortage is evidenced by vaccination data in the largest county in our region, Onondaga County, where as of February 4th, only 14% of the eligible 360,000 adults had been vaccinated as New York State continues to open eligibility requirements. Analysis of this data indicates that access to these vaccine appointments has been disproportionate at best, with one county-run vaccine site in downtown Syracuse reporting that of 16,593 doses given, 85% of patients were white and 71% lived in the suburbs of Syracuse. Onondaga County and neighboring Cayuga County have started efforts to address inequity through pop-up and mobile vaccine clinics. However, these measures coupled with increasing demand, reduced supply, and budgetary shortfalls, are only a first step to achieving widespread equity in vaccine distribution.

Serving sprawling and ethnically diverse communities, I believe the Syracuse Community Health Center and East Hill Medical Center are uniquely positioned to rectify these disparities should they be made eligible to participate in the new program and able to receive vaccines directly from the Federal Government.

As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to cause hardship for millions of Americans, it is crucial that we work together to ensure fair access to vaccines for all of our citizens. Thank you for your consideration and attention to my request, and I look forward to working with you as this initiative progresses.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/politics/katko/katko-urges-cdc-hrsa-to-supply-local-community-health-centers-with-covid-19-vaccines/

---