MELVILLE, NY (TIP): As the country takes steps towards distributing COVID vaccines to the population, many communities throughout the United States are either uninformed or misinformed about the process and effectiveness of being vaccinated. BAPS Charities organized a COVID-19 vaccination drive in Melville, New York on March 5, 2021, in collaboration with the State of New York COVID-19 Task Force and Stony Brook University Hospital benefitting 240 participants. While the hospital staff handled the registration of individuals, administration of the vaccination and post-vaccination care, BAPS Charities played an essential role in ensuring that the vaccine’s beneficiaries had a safe and smooth experience.  In particular, the volunteers assisted in providing safe flow and translation services.  On average, the onsite process lasted less than 30 minutes.

Before the vaccination, BAPS Charities provided education by a grassroots telephone campaign and through local media on the vaccination’s necessity and safety. Steve Bellone, Suffolk County Executive, said, “BAPS Charities is doing is an important aspect of the process of vaccination. Through such vaccination sites, we are reaching parts of the community that may not be getting access.”

Members of US Representative Thomas Suozzi’s office presented a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition on behalf of the Congressman to BAPS Charities for hosting the vaccination drive. New York State Assemblyman Steven H. Stern (10th Dist.) and Chad A. Lupinacci, Town Supervisor for Huntington Township, visited the vaccination drive and expressed their appreciation and gratitude on behalf of their constituents.