Governor Cuomo Announces Five New Pop-up Vaccination Sites at NFTA Stations in the Buffalo and Niagara Falls Areas

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced five new pop-up vaccination sites at Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority station stops in the Buffalo and Niagara Falls areas. The sites will serve walk-ins on a first come, first served basis utilizing the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. New York State is partnering with Erie County Medical Center, Kaleida Health, Urban Family Practice and Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center to administer vaccines at the sites. NFTA will provide a free seven-day pass to people who get vaccinated at the sites.

The Governor also announced that beginning June 1, Sahlen Field in Buffalo will host a vaccination site. Anyone who gets vaccinated at the site will receive a voucher for a free ticket to a Buffalo Bisons game. The site will administer the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The Toronto Blue Jays will host a vaccine raffle for prizes, including four tickets to the Blue Jays-Yankees game in Buffalo, three autographed baseballs from star players and an autographed jersey from a star player.

"The rate of vaccination is slowing in New York State, and as we reach the point where New Yorkers who want a vaccine have taken one, it's important that we make vaccination as easy a process as possible," Governor Cuomo said. "We're establishing more pop-up sites and letting individuals walk in to get vaccinated, and these new sites at local station stops will help Western New York commuters and visitors alike easily access the vaccine along frequented routes in the area."

The sites will be open from Friday, May 14 to Saturday, May 15, and from Monday, May 17 to Wednesday, May 19. Individuals planning on being vaccinated are encouraged to allow for additional time in their commute to accommodate the vaccination process.

Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Executive Director Kim Minkel said, "If our region is really going to recover from this pandemic, we need as many people as possible to jump on the bus and get vaccinated. The NFTA is excited to assist in the state's efforts to help ensure there's easy access for the COVID-19 vaccine for all transit riders and for the public by setting up five vaccination sites at our busiest locations. We thank Governor Cuomo for partnership and his tremendous leadership in keeping New Yorkers safe and building this state back better than it was before."

The NFTA station stops are available below:

University Metro Rail Station
3383 Main Street
Buffalo, NY
Open: 8 AM - 1 PM

Utica Metro Rail Station
1391 Main Street
Buffalo, NY
Open: 2 PM - 7 PM

Buffalo Metropolitan Transportation Center
181 Ellicott Street
Buffalo, NY
Open: 8 AM - 1 PM

AppleTree Mall/Business Park
2875 Union Road
Cheektowaga, NY
Open: 2 PM - 7 PM

Portage Road Transportation Center
1162 Portgage Road
Niagara Falls, NY
Open: 2 PM - 7 PM

Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes said, "It's increasingly critical that we get creative to reach New Yorkers who have not yet taken the vaccine. I applaud Governor Cuomo's new initiative to reach Buffalo and Niagara Falls residents by coordinating pop-up vaccination sites at local NFTA bus and rail station stops and also provide free seven-day passes to people who receive the vaccine. We need to make the COVID-19 vaccine as easy to access as possible to reach community members who may be hesitant about taking it, and these sites will bring it directly to commuters and visitors alike. I thank the Governor and the NFTA for helping to get vaccine shots in the arms of Western New Yorkers and looking forward to seeing residents take advantage of this vaccination opportunity and free NFTA passes."

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said, "Western New York experienced some of the highest COVID positivity rates in the State, and now that our numbers are going back down we have to make sure COVID cannot make a resurgence in our community. Governor Cuomo has been here from the beginning to set up specially targeted vaccinated sites to reach communities and populations with the lowest vaccination rates, and these additional pop-up vaccination sites administered by ECMC and other health providers at NFTA stops will make it even easier for the people in Buffalo to get vaccinated so we can end this pandemic once and for all."

This announcement adds to New York State's ongoing efforts to make the COVID-19 vaccine more accessible. On May 10, the Governor announced eight new pop-up vaccination sites at MTA station stops in the New York City, Long Island and Mid-Hudson regions. On April 27, Governor Cuomo announced that beginning April 29, all state mass vaccination sites are open for walk-in appointments, a continuation of efforts to make it easier for New Yorkers to get vaccinated. Additionally, all vaccine providers are encouraged to allow walk-in appointments and eliminate other barriers for vaccinations for eligible New Yorkers.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker Dashboard is available to update New Yorkers on the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. The New York State Department of Health requires vaccinating facilities to report all COVID-19 vaccine administration data within 24 hours; the vaccine administration data on the dashboard is updated daily to reflect the most up-to-date metrics in the state's vaccination effort.

New Yorkers who suspect fraud in the vaccine distribution process can now call 833-VAX-SCAM (833-829-7226) toll-free or email the state Department of Health at [email protected]. Hotline staff will route complaints to the appropriate investigative agencies to ensure New Yorkers are not being taken advantage of as the State works to vaccinate the entire eligible population.

New York State continues to open community-based pop-up vaccination sites in underserved communities across the state. Since January 15, more than 200 community-based pop-up sites have administered more than 77,000 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.