COVID19 2021-02-22 Vaccine Update: 1100 Doses Delivered Following Delay Last Week

The Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) received 1,100 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine following a delay due to weather last week. Of the 1,100 doses, the State has designated 300 for individuals with comorbidities, 600 are for individuals eligible in phase 1b, and 200 are for healthcare workers eligible in phase 1a. The Health Department is awaiting notification from the State regarding this week’s vaccine allocation.

Grocery workers and healthcare workers who were scheduled to receive a vaccine last week, but the appointment was canceled due to the delay in delivery will be rescheduled for a clinic on Wednesday, February 24 at the Cayuga Health Vaccination Clinic at the Mall. These individuals are being notified directly.

As planned last week, due to the limited supply of vaccine, doses will be prioritized for individuals who are 65 years and older with underlying medical conditions (comorbidities). The Health Department will work directly with Titus Towers and McGraw House that serve older adults with limited income. The Health Department will work with the leadership at these two organizations to register their residents who are age 65 and older with comorbidities. The remaining doses will be offered to P-12 school workers eligible in phase 1b.

The Health Department will send the registration links for vaccination appointments to P-12 school workers through employers or association networks later in the week. P-12 workers will have a pre-determined amount of time to register for appointments. The online registration link will not be public and individuals in this group should not forward the link to others who are not in this eligible group. TCHD partners with Cayuga Health System to administer the doses it receives from the State.

“We are pleased to receive the allocation from last week. We are locally prioritizing grocery workers, P-12 school workers, and adults who are age 65 and older with underlying medical conditions, all of whom are eligible. Due to the limited amount of vaccine, we are not opening the registration links to the public. We will continue to communicate directly with the eligible populations until we receive a larger supply of vaccine that can better meet the demand in our community,” stated Tompkins County Public Health Director Frank Kruppa.

If you are age 65 years and older, TCHD is encouraging you to check with local pharmacies and the State-run vaccination sites. You can find more information about the State vaccination sites, and links to the pharmacy websites, on the TCHD website.

A comprehensive list of eligible priority populations can be found on the TCHD website.

211 has partnered with TCHD to respond to public inquiries about the COVID-19 vaccine (dial 2-1-1 or 1-877-211-8667 from any phone). This includes general information and current eligibility requirements. Due to the current high demand for vaccine, 211 staff are unable to assist with appointment registration. 211 staff also do not have access to information on future clinics or have a waitlist.

The public is encouraged to sign up for:

• Email alerts
• Swift 911
• Some pharmacies have alerts (for 65 and older): Click here

Prioritized eligible populations include:

• P-12 Schools
  • P-12 school (public or non-public) or school district faculty or staff (includes all teachers, substitute teachers, student teachers, school administrators, paraprofessional staff, and support staff including bus drivers)
  • Contractors working in a P-12 school (public or non-public) or school district (including contracted bus drivers)
• Grocery Stores
  • Public Facing Grocery Store Workers, including convenience stores and bodegas
• Adults age 65 and older with comorbidities
  • A list of eligible comorbidities and underlying conditions can be found on the Health Department website.

The recording of the most recent COVID-19 Community Town Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 17 can be viewed on the Tompkins County You Tube page.

A series of virtual “Office Hours” with local medical providers are being held to answer questions and address concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine. Find out more and register for upcoming sessions on the Health Department website.

For local updates and information, check the TCHD website.