CHILD CARE PROVIDERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID VACCINE NOW

As child care providers you are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccination now.

Who is eligible?

• Owners, operators, and staff of NYS OCFS licensed and registered child care programs

• Providers and staff of legally exempt group child care programs

What proof of eligibility do I need?

After you sign up for your vaccine you will sign an attestation swearing that you are within an eligible group. You should also bring with you some documentation of your eligibility this may be: a pay stub, work identification, your OCFS license, or anything identifying you as a child care provider.

What if my license is in renewal?

If your license is currently in renewal you are still eligible! You will need to bring a copy of your license or registration along with the letter you received from your licensor or regulator stating that you are in renewal. If you don’t have a copy of your letter, reach out and one can be sent to you.

Where can I get a shot?

Child care providers are eligible to receive the vaccine at various sites. The following options are available to you but might be dependent on your home address.

• State and Federally run sites: https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/ | Federally run sites are restricted by residency.

• County sites: contact the county in which you live (not work) to see what upcoming vaccine clinics may be available to you.

• OMH sites: The Office of Mental Health has now opened its vaccine clinics to child care providers. Visit this link to learn more and schedule your appointment: https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/o-lov-covid19-vaccine/index.html

• Pharmacies: Child care providers are now eligible to receive vaccines at pharmacies. Visit the following links to check for appointment availability. You may also find appointments at your locally owned and operated pharmacy.

  • https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19

  • https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine?cid=ps_cvdvcc&gclid=CjwKCAjw9MuCBhBUEiwAbDZ-7h6ZBZ2bFGOddUkx7mR-H2B0gEqhe9PIyhphLfh7Bhnxuq1a2XB3SBoChWoQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

  • https://www.riteaid.com/covid-19 

  • https://www.hannaford.com/pharmacy/covid-19-vaccine

  • https://capitalregionalrx.com/covid-vaccine-appointment/

Other helpful links:

Capitalregionvax.org offers real-time information about available appointments in the following counties: Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, and Washington.

https://vaccinefinder.org/search/ offers a wide search of vaccine availability based on your location.

Is it safe?

Yes! The vaccine is safe and effective for most people. We encourage you to reach out to your medical provider with any concerns and visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/safety-of-vaccines.html to learn more.

Please give us a call and ask to speak to a nurse if you have any additional questions.

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UPDATE:

On March 2, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services directed states and territories to get all teachers, school personnel, child care program educators, and other child care program staff members their first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination by the end of the month. To help monitor progress toward this goal, we are helping the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conduct a survey to learn about your attitudes and behaviors regarding COVID-19 vaccination. The survey should take only 5–10 minutes to complete. Your participation is completely voluntary. No personally-identifying information will be collected, and your responses will be kept confidential.

Take the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/covid19vaxchildcaresurvey

If you agree to participate, please complete this National COVID-19 Vaccination Survey. If you receive the link multiple times, please complete the survey just once. The survey closes on March 31.