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Tonko Highlights New Tools to Help Get Americans Vaccinated

White House online & messaging tools will simplify process for Americans to find vaccine appointments

  • Rep. Paul Tonko

AMSTERDAM, NY—Congressman Paul D. Tonko today highlighted new tools from the White House to help New Yorkers get vaccinated. Americans sixteen years or older can now input their ZIP code at www.vaccines.gov / www.vacunas.gov or text their ZIP code to GETVAX (438829) / VACUNA (822862) to get help making a vaccine appointment at a nearby location.

“Getting vaccinated is the best action we can take to crush the pandemic, protect ourselves and our loved ones, and help us start to return to normal,” Congressman Tonko said. “Our dedicated health care workers and volunteers are standing at the ready to deliver those vaccines, and with these new helpful tools, it’s easier than ever to find a vaccination site near you. So visit vaccines.gov or text your ZIP code to GETVAX today to make an appointment for yourself, your family, your friends and your neighbors.”

Right now, more than 90 percent of Americans live within five miles of a vaccine site. Across the country, there are nearly 40,000 local pharmacies, more than 650 community health centers and hundreds of community vaccination centers and mobile clinics where Americans can get a shot. These new vaccine finder tools make it quicker and more convenient than ever to make an appointment. 

Public health officials are urging every eligible person to get vaccinated as quickly as possible. The vaccines are safe and effective, providing significant protection against severe illness and helping slow the spread of the virus in our communities. Studies have shown these vaccines to be remarkable effective, causing an 80 percent reduction in deaths and a 70 percent reduction in hospitalizations among seniors.

Under the leadership of President Biden and Democrats in Congress, the pace of vaccination has quickly ramped up over the last three months thanks to the critical resources delivered by the Tonko-backed American Rescue Plan. As of this week, more than 105 million Americans are fully vaccinated. More than 147 million Americans have received at least one dose of the vaccine, including more than 80 percent of seniors, educators, school staff and childcare workers, as well as 90 percent of doctors.

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