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County prepares for vaccine distribution

Isabel Braverman - Staff Writer
Posted 12/3/20

SULLIVAN — Two vaccines are getting close to being approved for distribution, which will be largely handled by the federal government in concert with state and local governments.

Sullivan …

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County prepares for vaccine distribution

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SULLIVAN — Two vaccines are getting close to being approved for distribution, which will be largely handled by the federal government in concert with state and local governments.

Sullivan County Public Health Director Nancy McGraw said the county submitted their COVID-19 vaccination distribution plan to the New York State Department of Health.

While there are still many unknowns when it comes to the vaccine—such as when it will be made available and the quantity made available—a plan on who to vaccinate first has been put in place.

“If there is a limited amount initially, when you have a crisis you identify those who are highest risk and get it to them first, so that would be our healthcare workers,” McGraw said in a video posted by Sullivan County Public Health on Wednesday.

She added, “We have been doing a lot of planning for several months anticipating not knowing when, and how much, and how soon a vaccine would become available; we're getting closer to that.”

She said in the next couple weeks they will be finding out more.

Also on Wednesday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced in a press briefing that the Pfizer vaccine could be expected by December 15, with 170,000 doses, and the Moderna vaccine some time this month.

This is only a small percentage of the population of the entire state.

“Looking ahead, the vaccination program is going to be a major governmental undertaking and it has to be done right,” Cuomo said in a statement.

McGraw said the vast majority of the general public probably won't be able to get the vaccine until spring or summer.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday recommended that healthcare workers and nursing home residents receive the vaccine first.

Jonathan Schiller, CEO of Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills (formerly Catskill Regional Medical Center), said the hospital has registered as a vaccine administration site with the CDC and the state's Department of Health.

He said while it's still unclear on how many doses they will receive and when, “there's a well-thought-out algorithm in terms of who may be appropriate for the first vaccination round,” which includes vulnerable patients, nursing home patients, frontline healthcare workers and first responders.

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