Vaccine arrives in Washington County

You are currently viewing Vaccine arrives in Washington County

Washington County’s general public received its first installment of the COVID-19 vaccine from the New York State government this weekend.

Granville Town Supervisor Matt Hicks said 800 vaccines were distributed to Fort Edward for use on Saturday and Sunday with 600 of those vaccines designated for senior citizens aged 65 and older only. Of that distribution, 200 were for those falling under categories 1A and 1B.

Granville Town Supervisor Matt Hicks

“Last Sunday (Jan. 17) they (Washington County) were notified of an allotment of distributions coming,” Hicks said. “600 senior citizens vaccines were taken by 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday.”

Within 90 minutes, all 600 appointments for senior citizens aged 65 or older were filled for this weekend.

Hicks said many of the eligible elderly recipients were informed by individual senior citizen groups that make up the 17 towns in Washington County. The best way to register was by an online form due to the Washington County Department of Health’s phone number being constantly occupied.

Last week, many nursing homes and senior centers in the county were able to vaccinate most staff and residents through outside providers who got their hands on the vaccine.

A big inconsistency found is the unknown of when and the exact number of vaccines will arrive to the county.

“(The state will) tell when they tell them (the county),” Hicks said. “They just don’t know when it’s coming.”

Multiple attempts for a comment from the Washington County Department of Health were unsuccessful.

For more information and to see the qualifications for vaccinations, please go to https://washingtoncountyny.gov/1147/Coronavirus-Information