1) COVID-19 Vaccine Update:

Things are progressing rapidly with the vaccine and it is anticipated that the first supply of Pfzier's vaccine will arrive in the state in December. Plans call for the initial supply to be disbursed to the healthcare workforce in hospitals and local health departments. As vaccine supplies become available, the plan calls for it to be dispersed to healthcare workers and patients in long term care facility, federally qualified health centers, urgent care centers, pharmacies, state institutional settings, ambulatory care providers, including independent private practices and clinics, and home health/hospice care.

In order for any private practice or clinic to provide the COVID-19 vaccine to patients, they MUST BE ENROLLED in the New York State Immunization Information System (NYSIIS). The New York State Department of Health has informed us that enrollment in the NYSDOH COVID-19 Program for ambulatory care providers, including independent private practices and clinics, is expected to open on December 21, with a webinar slated for December 22 to answer questions. A recorded webinar will be available earlier in December to review at your convenience. Additional written material, including an enrollment instructions guide, will also be provided.  

2) Identification of independent private practices:

The New York State Department of Health is working to identify independent group practices that may be interested in providing the COVID-19 vaccine to patients. These are practices that are NOT Article 28 facilities. If your practice is interested, please contact NYSIIS Program Staff at 518-473-2839 or  Contact NYSIIS Program staff at (518) 473-2839 or  via email:  NYSIIS@health.ny.gov as soon as possible. This way you will be contacted directly by the DOH when the enrollment process begins. 

The Medical Society of Erie County stands in support of Buffalo Colon Corp to advocate for NYS legislation to lower the age (from 50 years to 45 years of age) for colonoscopy screenings.

Read MSCE's full position statement here.

• Another Voice: Support for Dr. Gale Burstein
• Health Advisory: Revised Protocols for Personnel in Healthcare and Other Direct Care Settings to Return to Work Following COVID-19 Exposure or Infection
  

• Travel Restrictions

• Community COVID-19 Testing Resources
• Isolation and Quarantine Information
  
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  
• Up-To-Date COVID Data
• Community Resources
  
• New York State Executive Orders
  
• Erie County Emergency and Executive Orders 
• CMS Publishes Program Year 2019 Open Payments Data