Putnam Coronavirus Update: Expanding Vaccinations

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — Coronavirus vaccine eligibility and access are expanding again as the supply to New York from the federal government continues to increase.

As of Thursday, 22.2 percent of Putnam residents had received at least one dose. Meanwhile, county health officials were monitoring 271 positive cases of coronavirus as of Monday. Nine people were hospitalized in Putnam with COVID-19.

All Putnam residents 60 years of age and older became eligible for vaccinations Wednesday, following a change in state rules.

On March 17, public-facing government and nonprofit employees and building workers will be added to the growing list of essential workers who are eligible for the vaccines.

"Our frontline employees who deal with the public every day are finally able to get the vaccine protection they need," County Executive MaryEllen Odell said Thursday.

Vaccine supply is still short. Odell said she continues to call for more doses to be allocated to Putnam and the region, and she urged the public to do the same.

"We should all advocate together — government officials, education leaders, business owners," she said. "Your voices, together with our health department’s efforts, are now imperative. Please contact state and federal representatives and tell them we need their help in bringing the vaccines to Putnam County to help reopen our Main Street economy and give our children the education they require."

The coronavirus vaccine supply is increasing steadily— more than 6 million total coronavirus vaccine doses have been administered in New York as of Thursday. More than 20 percent of New Yorkers have received a first dose, and 10.4 percent of New Yorkers are fully vaccinated.

Therefore, state health officials have changed the rules on who can be vaccinated where.

• Starting Wednesday, pharmacies began vaccinating teachers and people over the age of 60.
• Starting March 17, other providers will be able to vaccinate any eligible New Yorker.

The rule change releases local health departments and hospitals from their initial responsibilities which limited hospitals to vaccinating health care workers, local health departments to vaccinating essential workers and people with underlying health conditions, and pharmacies to giving shots to New Yorkers 65 years of age and older.

"Finally, commonsense has prevailed and the complicated restrictions that limited which providers could vaccinate which groups of residents are being lifted," Odell said. "Our county health department will now be able to vaccinate anyone who is eligible. This will make it so much easier for the public to understand where they can go to get vaccinated."

The large population of eligible residents still exceeds the supply coming from the federal government. Asking New Yorkers to remain patient, health officials advised them not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment.

All eligible Putnam residents can check the county health department website for appointments. The website also lists the local pharmacies that can vaccinate teachers and those who are 60 years and older.

Any eligible resident can also use the state’s 'Am I Eligible' tool or call 1-833-NYS-4-VAX to find an appointment at one of the state’s mass vaccination sites.