Rep. Dan Goldman Hosts Back-to-School Vaccination and School Supplies Drive With NYC Health + Hospitals, UA3, and Con Edison

 

NEW YORK, NY — Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today partnered with NYC Health + Hospitals, UA3, and Con Edison to host a free back-to-school vaccination and supplies event at NYC Health + Hospitals/ Gouverneur Hospital to ensure that children in the district are ready for the new school year with the immunizations and supplies they need to start the school year off right. 

 

“With school just around the corner, no parent should have to worry about whether their child is protected from preventable diseases, or if they have the supplies they need to start the year on the right foot,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “As the Trump administration erodes our confidence in vaccines and attacks public education, I’m proud to partner with the City and great community organizations to ensure kids in our community are healthy, prepared, and excited to start the school year, regardless of their background, income, or status.” 

 

The event offered New York City families MMR, DTP, Polio, Varicella, HPV, and other recommended vaccines for children regardless of insurance status, immigration status, or ability to pay, while also providing free school supplies provided by UA3 and Con Edison. 

 

The event comes as Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has worked to erode public health institutions, legitimize anti-vaccine sentiment, and defund initiatives aimed at developing new and potentially life-saving immunizations. Last week, the administration cancelled nearly half a billion dollars in funding for future mRNA vaccine development, with RFK Jr. claiming these vaccines don't perform well against respiratory viruses and can encourage mutations, a claim widely contradicted by scientific experts. RFK's HHS also fired all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a panel that provides authoritative guidance on immunizations. 

 

As a father of five children and a founding member of the Congressional Dads Caucus, Congressman Goldman has worked tirelessly to level the playing field for working families and protect the well-being of American children. 

 

In February, Goldman joined Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) in introducing the ‘American Family Act,’ which would codify the expired, COVID-19-era expanded Child Tax Credit that benefitted more than 61 million children and lifted nearly 4 million out of poverty in 2021 alone. 

 

Earlier this year, Goldman joined Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) in introducing the ‘Caring for All Families Act’ to expand the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This legislation would protect millions of workers who are currently unable to take time off to care for themselves or their families, and guarantees that parents and other family caregivers can take time off to attend a medical appointment or school function, such as a parent-teacher conference, without risk of losing their jobs.   

 

Last Congress, Goldman joined Representatives Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Susan Wild (PA-07) in introducing the ‘Child Care for Working Families Act,’ which would cap child care costs at 7 percent of a family’s income while expanding access to early childhood education programs and full-year, full-day child care programs. This legislation would also increase pay for child care workers and provide funds to support high-quality child care facilities.