Chokshi joins Queens Chamber COVID talk

Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi joined Queens Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Grech for a conversation about the pandemic. Screenshot via Facebook live

By Rachel Vick

The Queens Chamber of Commerce was joined by City Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi during a COVID Q&A Friday.

Chokshi and Chamber CEO Tom Grech discussed the borough’s next steps as the Delta variant becomes more prevalent and vaccination efforts continue.

“Queens County was the epicenter of the epicenter,” Grech said. “We've rebounded quite well… we've done a very good job of getting out there and vaccinating people [but] we still have pockets of our county sadly where the vaccinations have not been as thorough as they should be and that’s a shame.”

Chokshi, a Jackson Heights resident, said that the vaccination efforts are now decentralized to reach those pockets through a hyper local approach to meet potential patients where they are — both physically and mentally.

Turning to on the go care like DOH mobile vans and home vaccinations, as well as working closely with trusted community institutions including small pharmacies and family doctors will play a key role, he added.

“It’s important for people to hear from the folks they already know and trust,” Chokshi said. “It starts with listening to people, [being] responsive to why someone is choosing to get vaccinated or not. It might take multiple occasions.”

Chokshi also shared insight as to the dangers of the variant, which is significantly more contagious than the initial strain of COVID, and the value of getting vaccinated. He explained that even for those who have contracted COVID, the vaccine could boost or lengthen immunity.

“The benefits outweigh the risks,” Chokshi said, encouraging everyone eligible to get vaccinated and for those who have been to share their stories to demystify the experience.

“We have all been through so much during this pandemic,” he said. “Very few families have been spared from the effects of COVID. Vaccines are our best protection and it is perhaps the most dangerous time in the pandemic because of the Delta variant.”