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NMIC, a community-based nonprofit organization that provides social services to residents of Washington Heights, Inwood and the surrounding areas, was recognized at the inaugural NYC Imagine Awards on Oct. 19, 2021 for launching the Northern Manhattan, Harlem, and South Bronx Community COVID-19 Vaccination Scheduling Hotline. The hotline was made possible with the support of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

NMIC received the Nonprofit Resource Hub Innovation Award for their efforts in creating a hotline in collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital that proactively reached residents, many of whom had limited access to technology, to help them easily make appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The hotline, which is still up and running to help people schedule either first doses or a booster shot, is unique because it is tailored specifically to the Latinx community by defaulting to the Spanish language, with an English option. The hotline is completely bilingual and is staffed by local residents. Between March 1, 2021, when the hotline was launched, and Oct. 20, 2021, more than 27,000 COVID-19 vaccine appointments have been made through the hotline and over 35,000 proactive calls have been made to community members to encourage them to get vaccinated.

“NewYork-Presbyterian is proud to have collaborated with NMIC to lower barriers and increase access to life-saving COVID-19 vaccines for residents in upper Manhattan and the South Bronx,” said Anne Sperling, Vice President of Government and Community Affairs at NewYork-Presbyterian. “We know that vaccination is our best tool to bring the COVID-19 pandemic to an end, and as we continue our combined efforts to help connect people to vaccinations, we are honored to have this innovative program recognized by the NYC Imagine Awards.”

The NYC Imagine Awards was created to offer formal acknowledgement to some of New York City’s most effective and innovative nonprofit organizations.

"This award represents the resiliency of our community and our ability to thrive during stressful circumstances,” said Maria Lizardo, Executive Director of NMIC. “NMIC is honored to have worked with NewYork-Presbyterian on making the COVID-19 vaccine accessible to our most vulnerable community members.”  

Through the COVID-19 Vaccine Education Center, NewYork-Presbyterian offers numerous resources to help inform and empower the community and schedule vaccine appointments. To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and where you can get vaccinated, please visit www.nyp.org/covid19vaccine.