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Vol. 28 no. 2
Residents roll up sleeves for Covid vaccine The Herald spoke with local health care workers who recently received their first Covid-19 As the Pfizer-BioNTech and inoculations. Each viewed the Moderna Covid-19 vaccines roll vaccines’ arrival as a light at the out across the country, Bellmore end of the tunnel — having and Mer rick residents are toiled through the first wave of among the thousands of New the pandemic — but noted that Yorkers who have already preventive measures should still received their first doses of the be taken as hospitreatments. tals face a second The vaccine wave. developed by PfizMer rick resier-BioNTech began dent Fran Stevens nationwide distrihas worked in the bu t i o n i n m i d emergency departDecember after ment at Mount receiving approval Sinai South Nassau from the U.S. Food in Oceanside for and Drug Adminismore than 30 years, tration. The Mod- roB WEChSlEr but she had never erna vaccine was Pharmacist, seen the volume of approved for use a critically ill and week later, and Plainview Hospital dying patients both treatments treated at the hoswere more than 90 percent effec- pital that she saw at the height tive in preventing coronavirus of the pandemic. She received an infection during clinical trials. initial dose of the Pfizer-BioNExperts say the vaccines Tech vaccine just after Christshould be widely available to the mas, and is due for her second public by April or May. In the shot on Jan. 20. meantime, the first doses will go “Since we’re getting inundatto essential workers, in particu- ed again, something has to be lar hospital employees, long- done — this is not going away term care facility workers and with masking and social distancemergency medical technicians, ing,” Stevens said. “The vaccine as well as nursing home residents. Continued on page 3
By alySSa SEIDman aseidman@liherald.com
t
Courtesy Ed Garfinkel
JanICE anD ED Garfinkel, of Bellmore, are collecting shoes to benefit those in need.
Bellmore couple host holiday shoe drive out of their garage By anDrEW GarCIa agarcia@liherald.com
Another garage in Bellmore was packed to the ceiling with donations over the holidays. Ed and Janice Garfinkel, a retired couple who live in Bellmore, are collecting vital footwear for those in need. As of the first Tuesday of the new year, the Garfinkels had collected more than 1,700 pairs of new, gently worn and used shoes.
The drive has been so successful that they may run out of space in their garage by the Jan. 27 deadline, said Ed, 66. “We have 74 bags [of shoes] right now, and it’s still going to the end of January,” added Janice, 64. The collection effort will help raise funds for the National Alliance on Mental Illness’s Queens/Nassau branch, for which the Garfinkels serve as board members. NAMI is a nonprofit that
offers support, education and advocacy for those suffering from mental illnesses, according to its website. While the services NAMI offers are free, fundraising came up short last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s been a hard year for everyone, obviously,” Ed said. “Our biggest fundraiser is a walk on Jones Beach, but we couldn’t get that done. We had a virtual walk, but it didn’t Continued on page 11
he benefit of this vaccine clearly outweighs the risk.