LIBERTY – Sullivan County Public Health Services administered 165 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to a group of essential workers on Thursday, January 21, and on Friday the county began vaccinating residents over 65 years of age. Those clinics will go on through January 27, ultimately utilizing all 800 doses that have thus far been sent to Public Health.
“Per state requirement, we set aside 200 of those 800 doses for police officers, firefighters and teachers, all of whom are considered essential workers,” said Public Health Director Nancy McGraw. “The state also directed that we use the remaining 600 doses for our population older than 65. Registration for that is closed, as appointments filled up within two hours of announcement.”
Due to limited supply, county officials are not yet sure when the next shipment of vaccine will arrive. But in the meantime, residents can sign up to receive a notification the next time ac-run clinic opens for registration. The sign-up form and other vaccine info can be found at https://sullivanny.us/Departments/Publichealth/COVIDvaccines. A recorded voice message with the latest updates is also available at 845-513-2268.
“We are eagerly awaiting more vaccine from the state and federal governments and stand ready to host more clinics if and when those authorities give us the necessary supply of vaccine, and we continue to urge them to do so,” said District 2 Legislator Nadia Rajsz, chairwoman of the Legislature’s Health & Family Services Committee. “In the meantime, I want to thank our incredible team of county workers – from Public Health Services to Information Technology Services to Public Safety to the Sheriff’s Office – for the coordinated success they achieved on the first day of the clinic, and every day thereafter.”
“Together with our community partners, which also include Garnet Health Medical Center, Sun River Health (formerly Hudson River Healthcare), and Crystal Run Healthcare, and local participating pharmacies, we aim to get every resident and in-county worker vaccinated,” said McGraw. “We are working diligently toward the day when anyone who wants the vaccine will be able to get the vaccine. This is going to be a long-term project.”
