Dutchess Offers Free Rides to Vaccination Sites

POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro has announced that Dutchess County Public Transit is offering free transportation to residents with COVID-19 vaccination appointments at the County’s two Fixed Points of Dispensing (PODs), as well as future pop-up sites throughout the county, beginning last Saturday, April 10th.

Residents will simply present proof of a vaccine appointment – either a paper or digital ticket is acceptable – to Public Transit drivers when they board a bus to and from the vaccination site. Dutchess County’s two Fixed PODs locations, in Poughkeepsie and Dover, were chosen due to their ease of access via Dutchess County Public Transit, offering the greatest access for residents on each side of the county.

County Executive Marc Molinaro said, “Dutchess County is proud to offer free transportation to residents receiving COVID-19 vaccinations at our County-operated sites, removing barriers for those looking to obtain this life-saving vaccine. For months Dutchess County has worked to expand residents’ accessibility to vaccine, regardless of where in the County they reside, and providing complimentary transportation to and from our Points of Dispensing is the latest effort to equitably vaccinate and protect residents in every community. We look forward to residents throughout Dutchess County utilizing this latest offering so we can vaccinate as many of our friends and neighbors as possible.”

Dutchess County’s POD in Poughkeepsie is located at the former JCPenney store at the Poughkeepsie Galleria, 2001 South Road. In addition to picking up and dropping off riders at their established stop at the Galleria, located at the entrance outside the food court and Dick’s Sporting Goods, Public Transit buses will transport riders with appointments directly to the former JCPenney site. The County’s POD in Dover is the former CVS pharmacy, located at 3081 Route 22. Each of the sites is available by appointment only.

In recent weeks, DBCH has hosted Community Pop-up vaccination clinics in Beacon, East Fishkill, Hyde Park, Pine Plains and the City of Poughkeepsie, with more planned for LaGrange, Millerton, Pawling, City of Poughkeepsie and Union Vale in the coming weeks. Complimentary transportation to these upcoming Community Pop-up sites will also be available through Dutchess County Public Transit.

Residents who live within three-quarters of a mile of a regularly scheduled bus route but who cannot use the regular fixed route service and need transportation to DBCH PODs via ADA Complementary Paratransit Service or Dial-A-Ride and Flex Demand Response Service programs can contact Dutchess County Division of Public Transit at 845-473-8424; advance reservations are required for these services. More information about Dutchess County Public Transit system and its options is available at dutchessny.gov/publictransit.

Ensuring all residents are able to be vaccinated remains a priority for Dutchess County. More than 100 homebound and frail seniors have been vaccinated in their residences through a collaboration between the County’s Office for the Aging (OFA) and CareMount Medical; homebound and frail seniors can call the OFA at (845) 486-2555 to be screened for possible in-home vaccination. Residents 60 and older who have not been vaccinated and would like to receive their shots can call the OFA, and staff will register them for an appointment at an upcoming POD. OFA staff has also worked with Friends of Seniors to coordinate transportation for seniors who need assisting getting to and from their COVID-19 vaccination appointments.

Residents seeking vaccinations are encouraged to learn about upcoming appointments by completing DBCH’s Vaccination Information Request Form. Residents without internet access can call the Dutchess County Coronavirus Information Line at 845-486-3555 to hear weekly updates about local vaccine availability.