Assemblymembers Fahy, McDonald and Woerner Applauded for COVID-19 Vaccination Plan

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Local Legislators Applauded for COVID-19 Vaccination Plan

The Retired Public Employees Association (RPEA), representing the interests of nearly 500,000 state and local government retirees, applauds Assemblymembers Patricia Fahy (D-109), John McDonald (D-108), and Carrie Woerner (D-113) for their joint statement urging the state to create a pre-registration system for COVID-19 vaccinations.

The legislators’ recommendation is similar to a recent RPEA proposal to create a registration system that works. RPEA agrees with these legislators who say, “We need to do something to manage demand and scheduling in a way that reduces uncertainty and anxiety for everyone — we need to set up a pre-registration system. The vaccine distribution process is confusing, frustrating, and makes an already-anxious populace even more so. We need a straightforward system that matches supply with demand.”

RPEA President Diana Hinchcliff stated, “We thank Assemblymembers Fahy, McDonald and Woerner for their support of necessary improvements to the current vaccination appointments system and urge Governor Cuomo to consider these proposals. The current system is not working for retirees, many of whom are elderly. It is creating undue anxiety and stress and we encourage the state to initiate a COVID vaccination pre-registration system.”

Click here to view RPEA’s proposal, which was sent to Governor Cuomo and DOH Commissioner Zucker on January 22, 2021.