THE LATEST INFO ON COVID INNOCULATIONS:

                                               **ATTENTION** 

• Phasing Out of FDNY Vaccination Sites: The last day for first dose vaccinations at Fort Totten, Randall’s Island, and Susan Wagner High School will be on March 14th, 2021. Any FDNY first dose vaccinations after that date will be administered at 9 Metrotech and can be scheduled through the Learning Management System (LMS). The Fort Totten, Randall’s Island, and Susan Wagner HS sites will remain open until April 18th, 2021, to provide second dose inoculations. 

• New First Dose Appointments & Eligibility: Additional first dose vaccination appointments are now accessible on LMS from March 3rd - March 8th , and March 11th - March 14th , 2021 (*There will be no appointments scheduled on March 9th and 10th* ). Eligibility includes ALL FDNY members – all ages, active or retired, even retirees not in our WTC Health Program. *Retirees under age 65 must have a NYS qualifying health condition (ex. cancer, respiratory, cardiac, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, neuro, autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, kidney or liver disease, or obesity)*. FDNY active members (including civilians) are essential workers and can be vaccinated even without a physical health condition. Members must use LMS to create an appointment. To view available registration times and locations, log into LMS: www.fdnycampus.org. For assistance with LMS registration, call the FDNY Help Desk (718-999-2611) or WTC Health Program Help Desk (718-999- 1365). • Reminder: Active members can still be vaccinated even if they have previously declined it or have had the COVID-19 illness in the past. A member can log into LMS, select “Accept”, and then schedule their vaccination appointment. The FDNY has successfully administered over 35,000 COVID-19 vaccinations (FDNY and non-FDNY city employees) without any serious side-effects. Now is the time to step-up and protect not only yourself but your family and coworkers as well....MORE BELOW...

                                 FAQ answered by Dr. Prezant:

-Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine if I already had COVID-19? 

         According to the CDC and numerous health authorities, even people who already had the COVID-19 infection should get vaccinated. 

Why? 

       COVID-19 can lead to severe illness and long-term complications, even in younger people and those without underlying medical conditions. We also know that it's possible for someone who has already had COVID-19 to become infected again with COVID-19. No one wants that to occur. Lastly, we don't know how long natural immunity to COVID-19, the protection that results from having been ill with COVID-19, will last. However, getting a COVID-19 vaccine when you are CURRENTLY infected with COVID-19 is not beneficial to you and may expose people at the vaccine center. Therefore, the recommendation is to wait until you no longer feel ill and it has been at least 10 days from when you first became sick or tested positive. 

-Why do some healthcare authorities recommend waiting 90 days after having Covid-19? 

      There is widespread agreement that there is no contraindication to getting the vaccine if you had COVID-19 illness more than 10 days ago and currently feel well. The exception is if you received antibody treatment for COVID-19 infection, then you should wait 90 days, but that is the rare exception. For the vast majority not treated with antibodies, the 90-day waiting period is a method for dealing with vaccine shortages. Deferring your vaccination for 90 days allows others without natural immunity to get protection. However, it minimizes the fact that you are a healthcare worker with an increased risk for exposure or a retiree with an increased risk for getting severe COVID-19 illness due to age and other co-morbidities. The strength and longevity of person's natural immune response to COVID-19 infection varies depending on viral load, dysfunction of the immune system, and other factors. The COVID-19 vaccine produces a predictable immune boost. Given your increased risk for exposure or severe illness, we recommend NOT waiting 90 days, but it is a personal decision. 

 [LMS Vaccination Registration Members updating vaccination locations must cancel their existing registration in LMS before rescheduling. Members requiring assistance navigating LMS, please contact FDNY Help Desk] 

THE NEXT UPDATE WILL BE OUT ON MARCH 10th, 2021, STAY TUNED...