Opportunities For Otsego

COVID-19 Resources

Community Action Agencies across the country are taking steps to assist with responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in their local communities. To this effort, Opportunities for Otsego is providing this webpage as a one-stop location for Otsego County residents to get information on related issues:

Testing

Vaccines

Travel Restrictions and Guidelines

Know Your Rights

General Resources

Find a Test Site

Click on an icon below to get directions to a testing site in and around Otsego County and details on how to make an appointment.

Home Test Kits

You can order COVID-19 diagnostic collection kits online. After completing an online screening, if testing is necessary, you will be able to place an order for a home test kit. The kit enables you to collect a nasal swab or saliva sample at home and send it to a certified lab for processing. You will receive secure digital results within days.

Pixel by Labcorp: Nasal Swab ($119): Covered by insurance, Federal Funds for those without insurance, or pay out-of-pocket. Must be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have underlying conditions to be eligible for this at-home testing kit.

Vault Health: Saliva Test. ($119): Pay by HSA, FSA, or pay out-of-pocket and submit a request for reimbursement to your insurance company. You can order and take a COVID-19 test regardless of whether or not you're experiencing symptoms. There is a "no symptoms" option you can select when ordering your test.

Hims & Hers: Saliva Test ($150): Pay by credit card. Only people who are currently experiencing COVID-19 symptoms will be eligible for this at-home testing kit.

Vaccine Distribution & Appointments

Otsego County DOH Vaccine Information Hotline: 607.547.4240. This line is informational only.

Otsego County Local Vaccine Clinic Notification: The Otsego County Department of Health recommends residents download the "Otsego County Department of Health" mobile app to be notified as soon as local COVID-19 vaccination clinics are scheduled. To download the app, search the App Store for "Otsego County Department of Health". The app is FREE TO DOWNLOAD for both Apple and Android products.

Homebound Vaccines: Otsego County DOH will arrange a home visit for Otsego County residents who cannot leave home to get to a vaccine site. Email covidvaccine@otsegocounty.com with the name, physical address, and phone number of the homebound person or call Office for the Aging at 607.547.4232.

Bassett Healthcare: Follow this link for clinic updates and to sign up for the Stand-By list.

Pharmacy-based Vaccine Finder: Search pharmacy-based vaccine sites by zip code and vaccine type (e.g. Moderna, Pfizer and J&J). Only persons age 60+, teachers, all school staff (PreK-12) and childcare workers can be vaccination at pharmacies. Local participating pharmacies are CVS, Kinney Drugs, Rite Aid and Walgreens.

Find a State-run Vaccination Site: The closest mass vaccination sites are at SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Poly in Utica, SUNY Albany, and SUNY Binghamton. Click this link to schedule an appointment through the "Am I Eligible" portal or call 1.833.NYS.4.VAX.

Phase 1a and 1b Eligibility: Click the link for a complete, most up-to-date list of eligible groups and persons. General groups and populations:

Individuals Age 30 and older who reside in New York. *Persons age 16+ are eligible beginning April 6th*
First Responder or Support Staff for First Responder Agency
Fire, Police, Investigations, and Public Safety Communications
Other Sworn and Civilian Personnel
Corrections
P-12 Schools, including all teachers, administrators, support staff, bus drivers, and contractors working in a P-12 school.
In-person college faculty and essential in-person staff
Teachers, employees, and support staff of licensed, registered, approved or legally exempt group childcare.
Public transit employees
Public facing grocery store workers, including convenience stores, regional food banks, food pantries and permitted home-delivered meal programs.
Individual working or living in a homeless shelter where sleeping, bathing, or eating accommodations must be shared with individuals and families who are not part of your household.
High-risk hospital and FQHC staff, including OMH psychiatric centers
Health care or other high-risk essential staff who come into contact with residents/patients working in LTCFs and long-term, congregate settings overseen by OPWDD, OMH, OCFS, OTDA and OASAS, and residents in congregate living situations, overseen or funded by the OPWDD, OMH, OCFS, OTDA and OASAS
Certified NYS EMS provider, including but not limited to Certified First Responder, Emergency Medical Technician, Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Medical Technician – Critical Care, Paramedic, Ambulance Emergency Vehicle Operator, or Non-Certified Ambulance Assistant
County Coroner or Medical Examiner, or employer or contractor thereof who is exposed to infectious material or bodily fluids
Licensed funeral director, or owner, operator, employee, or contractor of a funeral firm licensed and registered in New York State, who is exposed to infectious material or bodily fluids
Staff of urgent care provider
Staff who administer COVID-19 vaccine
All Outpatient/Ambulatory front-line, high-risk health care workers of any age who provide direct in-person patient care, or other staff in a position in which they have direct contact with patients (i.e., intake staff)
All front-line, high-risk public health workers who have direct contact with patients, including those conducting COVID-19 tests, handling COVID-19 specimens and COVID-19 vaccinations
Home care workers and aides, hospice workers, personal care aides, and consumer-directed personal care workers
Staff and residents of nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, and adult care facilities
Restaurant employees, including delivery drivers, and workers in permitted soup kitchen and congregate meal programs
Public facing hotel workers
For-hire vehicle drivers, including taxi, livery, black car, and transportation network company drivers
Public-facing government and public employees
Not-for-profit workers who provide public-facing services to New Yorkers in need
Essential in-person public-facing building service workers
Persons over 16 with certain medical conditions (click here for full list of conditions)

Now That You Are Fully Vaccinated: CDC guide on how to protect yourself and others

Transportation Assistance

People who have a vaccination appointment but have no way to get to the vaccination site should call ahead to arrange for transportation:

Getthere Mobility Management: Anyone living in Otsego, Delaware, Chenango, Tioga or Broome county. No referral needed. Call 855.373.4040, Monday-Friday between 7:00AM-7:00PM.

Otsego County Office for the Aging & NY Connects: Otsego residents of all ages can call all 607.547.4232 or 607.547.4390.

Vaccine Myths vs. Facts

Johns Hopkins Medicine: COVID-19 Vaccines - Myth Versus Fact

CDC: Facts about Vaccines (English, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Korean, Other Languages)

Six Myths about the COVID-19 Vaccine (Source Children's Health)

Five Facts about Vaccines (Source Peace Health)

Vaccine FAQ

Coping with Vaccine Anxiety (NYS DOH)

COVID-19 Vaccines are Safe and Effective (NYS DOH)

Considerations for Pregnant or Breastfeeding Persons (Source CDC)

How Do mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Work? (Video)

COVID-19 Fast Facts (Source Asante)

COVID-19 Vaccine: What You Should Know

How to Talk About COVID Vaccines with Friends and Family

Know Before You Go

Travel Guidelines

New York COVID-19 Hot Spots

Your Rights Under COVID-19

Protections under New York State and Federal Orders: Paid sick leave; Unemployment; Health care and insurance; Mental health supports; Rent, mortgages and utilities; student loans.