Catholic Health in Western New York will lead vaccine distribution across its region, as per Governor Andrew Cuomo’s request. The non-profit healthcare system based in Buffalo will be the main hub for Western New York in a new statewide hub system for COVID-19 vaccine distribution, wgrz.com reported. Vaccine hubs, such as Western New York’s, will aim to build trust in the vaccines as well as distribute them. Chief Executive Officer Mark Sullivan said the hub led by Catholic Health will include three major parts: regional planning, an operations team, and a logistics team. The Western New York region covers Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties. Sullivan emphasized that this leadership position is not about Catholic Health, but about its participation in a “coalition” of community-based and faith-based organizations “as we move on from fighting the battle on the bedside to advancing our troops to vaccination”. He said while Catholic Health will base a lot of decisions on data, the most important data will be coming from community groups. Sullivan said that the vaccination is the community's plan, not Catholic Health's plan, in respect to the fact that the community needs to be involved with its creation. He emphasized that local organizations and groups need to get involved. Chief Integration Officer Rebecca McCormick-Boyle, who led Catholic Health’s St. Joseph's Campus in Cheektowaga when it was a COVID-only facility, said that vaccine education is also part of the Health Equity Task Force. Catholic Health operates five Catholic hospitals and nine other Catholic healthcare facilities. Catholic Health is a separate entity from the Diocese of Buffalo, which recently declared bankruptcy, but one of Catholic Health’s board members is a representative of the diocese. Sullivan said Catholic Health does not receive funding from the diocese and its bankruptcy does not affect Catholic Health in any way.