Rab’s Country Lanes and SIUH Northwell Health team up for COVID-19 vaccination shots

By Derek Alvez | alvez@siadvance.com
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – William Ford of New Brighton admitted he was stubborn about not getting the COVID-19 vaccine, until Friday night at Rab’s Country Lanes, in Dongan Hills.

“It was time to get it, COVID is serious,” the 46-year old Rab’s employee said. “I heard the hospital was going to be here and it made sense.”

Staten Island University Hospital Northwell Health and Rab’s Country Lanes teamed up, hoping to vaccinate and educate.

“We’re trying to get creative with COVID vax efforts on Staten Island,” said Christian Preston, Director of Public Relations for SIUH.

“As the Delta spreads in NYC and to address neighborhoods with some of the highest COVID positivity and lowest vaccination rates in the city, we wanted to get the ball rolling on COVID vaccinations at their wildly popular Cosmic Bowling Night.”

Rab’s Country Lanes Frank Wilkinson thought the idea was a perfect score.

“We have a great partnership with SIUH and we do multiple events here (staff league, staff bowling, fundraising, staff outings),” Wilkinson said. “It’s a community venue; and there is a need for the vaccination.”

According to the NYC Dept. of Health, 50 percent of Staten Islanders have been fully vaccinated. Manhattan has the highest rate at 66 percent.