Erie County Legislator Frank Todaro introduced a resolution advocating for elderly nuns living in congregate settings to receive the highest priority vaccine status after 22 nuns became infected with COVID-19 and 6 died at a Cheektowaga convent in December. Without vaccinations, many local nunneries have raised concerns about more infections considering the advanced age, close living quarters, and pre-existing conditions of many nuns. Legislator Todaro’s resolution passed unanimously at Thursday morning’s session.

Despite providing on-site care for many of the elder sisters, convents and motherhouses like the Felician Sisters convent have not been able to be recognized for the 1A category status even though they meet the criteria. Sisters of the same Felician order in Illinois, New Jersey, and Michigan have already received vaccines. Since the outbreak occurred in November and December, the convent has been on lockdown. Legislator Todaro’s resolution urges New York State to expand eligibility status to women in these facilities.

Legislator Todaro said, “Erie County is home to hundreds of elderly nuns living in congregate settings like motherhouses and convents. These facilities provide care to the elderly just like nursing homes and other long-term facilities do. These women who have dedicated decades of their lives to caring for others deserve high priority access to the COVID-19 vaccine. What happened at the Felcian Sisters convent in Cheektowaga is tragic and heartbreaking. We need to prevent deaths and outbreaks like moving forward. I thank my colleagues in the Legislature for their support, and hope to see our sisters granted access to the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.”

A copy of Legislator Todaro’s resolution can be viewed here.