What does the availability of COVID vaccines look like in Schoharie County look like?
Not enough.
Not even close.
The County Health Department used its first round of 100 vaccines for places like Marchand Manor in Sharon Springs and ARC homes, Director Amy Gildemeister told supervisors Friday.
Cobleskill Regional Hospital used its first 600 for 1A—health care workers, she said.
The county got a second 100 doses, reallocated from Fox Hospital to finish up the ARC and for a few other people, but as of Friday, they’re not in line for any doses this week.
And that’s a problem.
“We think we could do at least 1,200 vaccines a week,” through a large-scale POD or point of distribution,” Dr. Gildemeister said, “but not with 100 vaccines every week or every other week or less.”
Statewide, seven million people are now eligible for the vaccines, but the weekly allocation is just 300,000.
“Our constraint is the federal supply and that is creating a scheduling backlog,” said Governor Andrew Cuomo. “They increased eligibility, but they did not increase the supply.”
The state has set up 13 regional vaccine distribution sites, but the online registration system has crashed several times and yesterday, only the four newest, sites in Potsdam, Plattsburgh, Binghamton, and Utica, had slots for appointments.
“The demand is very, very high,” Dr. Gildemeister said, and the county’s already “pre-booked” more people than it has vaccinations, hoping the situation will change.
They were told by the state to “push” those 65-plus to the pharmacies, she said.
But no Schoharie County pharmacy received any vaccines.
“I hope we have more availability locally soon,” she said, noting there is no prohibition against going outside the county for the vaccine.
Under the state’s plan, pharmacies will have primary responsibility for those over 65, with Health Departments handling frontline workers—grocery store clerks, firefighters, and teachers, among others; and hospitals handling healthcare workers.
“It doesn’t mean we cannot do other people,” if they have the vaccines, Dr. Gildemeister said, and, frustrating for all, the plan can literally change at any second.
Friday, Fulton Supervisor Phil Skowfoe spoke to the need to get the word out about vaccine availability; he’s had calls from firefighters who haven’t heard anything.
Emergency Management Office Director Mike Hartzel said they’re constantly sending out updates, telling firefighters the supply is still limited and to “hold on.”
They’ve also been squeezing some of them in when possible, when they have doses that might otherwise go to waste, he said.
Once there’s enough of a supply, Mr. Hartzel said, his office plans to set up a POD (point of distribution).
“But right now, we just don’t have enough.”
Because they get no advance warning that doses are coming, Dr. Gildemeister said it’s hard to publicize them.
“Our phone is ringing without ceasing. We take their name and number if there is a time…”
IT is working on an online form that would be posted on the county website. Dr Gildemeister said.
They’re also adding a dedicated phone line for vaccination calls.
Dr. Gildemeister called the distribution process “frustrating”.
Just because we’re a small county doesn’t mean citizens here deserve less, she said.
“We are getting this into arms as fast as we can,” she said. That’s why they got the reallocated doses from Fox.
The state hotline to sign up for a COVID vaccine—or try—is 1-833-NYS-4-VAX. (1-833-697-4829.)