The “Vaxmobile” Mount Sinai South Nassau and the Town of Hempstead, America’s largest township, launched the region’s first COVID-19 Vaccination Mobile Unit in late March 2021. Known as the “Vaxmobile,” the bus was funded with $695,042 from the $133 million federal CARES Act legislation to provide economic relief to Town of Hempstead businesses, organizations, and residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ever since its launch, the Vaxmobile, which was among the first COVID-19 mobile units in New York State, has been on the road nonstop fulfilling its mission of bringing vaccines directly to vulnerable populations at a high risk of exposure in hard-hit communities by reducing transportation, language, and technology barriers to immunization. Vaccines are administered five, sometimes six, days a week. Residents must meet the eligibility requirements as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and New York State Department of Health.

The hospital initially directed its efforts to vaccinate the Town’s seniors at its housing centers and the homebound, ranging in age from 20 to 100 years old, including 99-year-old twin sisters who live in Oceanside, New York. Other at-risk residents included those in communities of color, where many doubted vaccine research and vaccine hesitancy was high. The Vaxmobile nurses and bilingual clinical staff set out to build trust in the immunization program and improve access to vaccines. To help overcome the challenge of vaccine hesitancy, hospital leaders and nurses teamed up with several Black and Brown community groups to encourage community members to accept the vaccine.

With the goal of making immunization more accessible to other populations, the hospital began partnering with more than a dozen local school districts to vaccinate students ages 12 to 15. Since then, the program has fanned out to several schools, including charter schools, libraries, and camps in Nassau, including Camp Anchor, a Town-owned camp for special needs adults and children. Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Vaxmobile program has had a positive impact on the health and well-being of residents in the Town of Hempstead and is helping to promote health equity across populations who experience disparities. Residents throughout the Town have enthusiastically welcomed the bus and have praised the hospital for delivering vaccines directly to their communities in a professional and caring manner.

The handicapped-accessible mobile unit is staffed by a bilingual clinical team from Mount Sinai South Nassau, including a nurse practitioner, two to four licensed practicing or registered nurses, registrars, and community health education professionals. The nurse practitioner assigned to the program prepares syringes with the vaccines and nurses administer them. If needed, they provide first-aid to recipients who might be experiencing any adverse reactions following COVID-19 vaccination. To date, the staff has safely administered more than 10,000 free vaccines to more than 7,750 residents at scores of libraries, recreation centers, civic groups, faith-based organizations, senior centers, schools, and even train stations. Day in and day out for nearly one year, the nursing team has been on the front lines caring for Town of Hempstead residents in need and helping to prevent the community spread of the virus.