POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County’s Department of Behavioral & Community Health, Monday, provided 60 residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine through a Closed Point of Dispensing mobile pop-up site at New Horizons Resources in Pleasant Valley. A video from the event is available online.
“Dutchess County is committed to ensuring our friends and neighbors with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, receive the life-saving vaccine for which they are currently eligible in Phase 1A of New York State’s phased distribution process,” said County Executive Marcus Molinaro. “Despite this pandemic, we remain steadfast in our resolve to ThinkDIFFERENTLY about residents of every ability and continue to advocate for them at the state level. In the absence of guidance at the state level, it’s critical these residents have a voice and receive the care and protection they’re rightly afforded, and Dutchess County will continue to protect its most vulnerable populations.”
Members of the Medical Reserve Corps of Dutchess County and health department staff provided individuals who receive support and services from New Horizons Resources, Abilities First, ARC of the Greater Hudson Valley and the Taconic Developmental Disabilities Services Office, among others, their first COVID-19 vaccination.
Molinaro and the county health department continue to communicate with the State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, Office of Mental Health and Office of Addiction Services and Supports to develop a means to similarly serve their local staff and clients.
