Phelps Hospital and the Ossining VAC Vaccinate Westchester

Phelps Hospital, Northwell Health and the Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps (OVAC) are pleased to announce a joint partnership providing free COVID-19 vaccinations and testing to Westchester residents. In addition to offering these services at the OVAC building and at pop-up sites throughout the county, the Community Paramedicine Program is also assisting some of the county’s most vulnerable residents by making visits to homebound seniors.

The Community Paramedicine Program was developed in response to the ongoing pandemic and its impact on local residents, especially seniors unable to travel to vaccination sites. Volunteers at the OVAC were trained and certified to administer COVID vaccinations and testing, with the goal of expanding to seasonal flu vaccinations in the near future.

“When the pandemic hit our area, our dedicated members looked for innovative ways to connect and reach those that needed extra help,” said OVAC EMS Director Nick Franzoso. “The Community Paramedicine Program has enhanced our delivery of care to the communities we serve – and it was through our partnership with Phelps Hospital that allowed us the ability to develop this program and have it become so successful.”

The Phelps Department of Emergency Medicine’s relationship with OVAC dates back to the 1960s. Today, their joint efforts have resulted in more than 5,300 COVID vaccines and 3,400 tests administered through the program. The partnership also extends beyond the ambulance corps’ typical service area, reaching residents across all of Westchester with home visits and pop-up sites at various community organizations and local events.

“The OVAC/Phelps Hospital Community Paramedicine Program provides COVID vaccinations at the homes of vulnerable seniors, which can be lifesaving,” noted Dr. Emil Nigro, OVAC Medical Director and Physician Advisor & President of the Phelps Hospital Medical Staff. “It’s another first in Westchester County!”

COVID vaccinations are available in the Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps building on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the end of December. All vaccination types are currently offered: Pfizer-BioNTech (ages 5-11 and 12+), Moderna (ages 18+) and Johnson & Johnson (ages 18+). This includes booster shots of the Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine for all adults 18 and older who completed the primary series at least 6 months ago, or 2 months for Johnson & Johnson.

Vaccines for the Community Paramedicine Program are provided directly from either the Westchester County Department of Health, Or NYS Department of Health. New York State supplies all Antigen COVID testing kits and has supplied Molecular test kits until October 2021. Through a partnership with the Town of Ossining, OVAC is now able to offer COVID Molecular testing free of charge to the community.

The Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps is located at 8 Clinton Avenue in Ossining, N.Y. Appointments may be booked online for both COVID vaccines and testing by visiting www.ossiningvac.org. Home vaccinations and testing can be scheduled for those unable to travel by contacting 914-941-9196 or covidtest@ossiningvac.org. In addition to vaccinations, free testing, both rapid antigen and a rapid molecular NAAT, is available on Mondays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment.

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About Phelps Hospital

Phelps Hospital, part of Northwell Health, is a full-service 238-bed acute care community hospital in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. With more than 1,700 employees and 1,100 medical staff members representing 60 medical specialties, Phelps offers one of the broadest ranges of community hospital services in Westchester County. Caring for the community is at the heart of what Phelps does. Patients benefit from distinguished physicians, many of whom are pioneers in their field, offering the most advanced procedures using the latest technology. Phelps is one of approximately 500 hospitals nationwide to achieve Magnet Recognition® status from the American Nurses Credentialing Center for its commitment to nursing excellence and compassionate patient care. The hospital is supported by Northwell Health Physician Partners, a primary and specialty care medical group, with practices located on the hospital campus and in the surrounding communities. Phelps is located at 701 North Broadway in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. and can be reached by calling (914) 366-3000 or visiting www.phelps.northwell.edu. Follow @PhelpsHospitalNorthwell on Facebook, @Phelps-Hospital-Northwell on LinkedIn and @PhelpsHospital on Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and updates.

About Northwell Health

Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, with 23 hospitals, 830 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians. We care for over two million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 76,000 employees – 18,900 nurses and 4,800 employed doctors, including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners – are working to change health care for the better. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We’re training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

About the Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps

Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps (OVAC) is a 501c3 non-profit combination (both volunteer and career member) Advanced Life Support (ALS) agency providing both ALS and Basic Life Support (BLS) services to the Town and Village of Ossining and the “West End” of the Town of New Castle since 1958. OVAC also operates an Advanced Life Support First Response Agency providing ALS coverage to the Villages of Briarcliff Manor and Croton on Hudson. In addition to ALS Services, OVAC also assists several neighboring agencies with Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). Our 137 employees and 46 volunteers dedicate countless hours to the health and safety for the communities we serve. OVAC is located at 8 Clinton Ave in Ossining N.Y. and can be reached by calling (914) 941-9196 or visiting www.ossiningvac.org. Follow @ossiningems on Facebook or Instagram for the latest news and updates.

http://www.ossiningvac.org – Community Paramedicine Program: COVID Vaccinations & Testing