NEWS12 The Bronx

A local community center turned into a pop-up vaccine site to inoculate NYCHA tenants 64 years and older.

The Moderna shot is administered by workers from the Morris Heights Health Center as part of the Bronx Rising Initiative.

The initiative aims to provide vaccine access to seniors and vulnerable Bronx residents living in public housing.

Some say that without a pop-up vaccine site like these at NYCHA developments, some tenants wouldn’t be able to get vaccinated.

William Garcia, 67, is the first Bronx River Houses tenant to get vaccinated. “I didn’t feel the needle. He said, ‘Ready?’ That was quick,” said Garcia.

Tenant Lannie Davis says she wasn’t sure where she would go to get her shot if her community center wasn’t providing vaccinations.

“I’m happy it’s here now,” said Davis.

Approximately 130 Moderna doses will be administered at the Bronx River Community Center. Organizers say the goal is to vaccinate about 15,000 NYCHA tenants in two months at various public houses in the Bronx. However, they say they need help from the federal government to make sure they meet their goal of getting the vaccine into the arms of those most at risk of the coronavirus.

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