Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz today announced the county’s partnership with Pegula Sports Entertainment and the Buffalo Sabres to open a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Key Bank Center in Buffalo. The Center’s Lexus Club, an accessible downtown location with ample parking that is also located on public transportation lines, will serve as the site for the Erie County Health Department’s third Point of Distribution (“POD”) for vaccinations. Upon activation it is envisioned that the Key Bank Center POD could administer over one thousand vaccinations a day.

“I thank the Pegulas, Pegula Sports Entertainment and the Buffalo Sabres for providing the Key Bank Center location as the site for a new Erie County vaccination POD and we look forward to opening this site as soon as possible. Their commitment to our area and to protecting our residents stands out and is greatly appreciated as we work towards getting more and more people vaccinated. This site is well-placed to serve the City of Buffalo and all of Erie County, and as more vaccines become available we will be able to increase operations here,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “Together with existing county vaccination PODs at SUNY Erie South and SUNY Erie North, we are expanding our capacity to vaccinate more residents and protect more people.”

President & CEO of Pegula Sports & Entertainment and Owner & President of the Buffalo Sabres Kim Pegula added, “Our organization is proud to work with County Executive Mark Poloncarz and his team to help provide as many vaccinations as possible to our community. We appreciate the work of our front line healthcare workers and are happy to help in any way that we can. “

“We appreciate having this new, accessible location available to our vaccination teams,” said Erie County Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein. “With three safe and effective vaccines available and supplies increasing, our department is ready to get to work vaccinating Erie County residents with this important tool in our COVID-19 prevention toolkit.” 

This site will open on Wednesday, March 10 with appointments specifically for individuals ages 65 and older. Appointments are required and will be opened as vaccine supply is available. Registration information will be sent initially to individuals who have used the ECDOH Vaccine Notification form (www.erie.gov/vaccinenotice).

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