Ulster To Reopen Best Buy Site For COVID-19 Booster Shots

KINGSTON, NY — The former Best Buy site at the Hudson Valley Mall will once again be used in the fight against the coronavirus.

Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan said Thursday the location will administer booster shots starting in September.

The federal Food and Drug Administration recently announced that people should receive a booster shot eight months after their last dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Best Buy location originally went online in March and has a capacity of 2,500 doses a day with parking for more than 300 cars.

Additionally, Ulster County is partnering with SUNY New Paltz and SUNY Ulster to offer vaccines to unvaccinated students by hosting vaccination pods on campus. All SUNY students looking to participate in in-person classes are required to be vaccinated.

Ryan said the county's ability to offer vaccines safely and quickly was an essential part of why it became a leader in vaccination rates.

"As we enter the next phase of vaccinations, I am confident that we will again be able to replicate our previous success," he said. "With the FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine, there is no reason why residents should hesitate to get vaccinated."

Earlier in August, Ulster County opened a new vaccination site at the Kingston Plaza. Located between Savonna's Pizza and Scalon Cleaners at 304 Plaza Road, No. 25, in Kingston, the site is open from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Friday. Appointments can be made at VaccinateUlster.com; walk-ins will be accepted.

As of Thursday, there were 607 active cases of the coronavirus in Ulster County, up from 573 on Wednesday.

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