LIBERTY – Following the initial rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine with local healthcare organizations and the subsequent major expansion of those eligible to receive the vaccine, Sullivan County Public Health Services will undertake mass COVID-19 vaccinations as early as the week of January 25 at SUNY Sullivan in Loch Sheldrake, supplies permitting.
“As a key leader in the response to coronavirus, we plan to order 1,000 doses of the vaccine so that we can significantly increase inoculations,” Public Health Director Nancy McGraw said. “We are eager to do what we’ve long planned to do: vaccinate every Sullivan County resident that we can.”
As of this week, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that a wide range of New Yorkers – from those aged 65 and older to firefighters and teachers – are eligible to get either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19. However, supplies have been extremely limited, and currently, local providers are awaiting shipments before additional doses can be given out.
“Sullivan County government is determined to make the vaccine as widely available as possible, and so we’re carrying out our plan to offer convenient, safe and efficient Point-Of-Dispensing (POD) sites, within the parameters set by the state and federal governments,” said District 2 Legislator Nadia Rajsz, chair of the legislature’s Health & Family Services Committee. “We will do this in concert with a wide range of community partners.”
SUNY Sullivan’s Paul Gerry Fieldhouse will be the first large POD site, with other locations added as vaccine becomes more available. Registration information will be provided once vaccine shipment is confirmed.
