Putnam Coronavirus Update: Vaccinations For Seniors

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — A small supply of vaccine doses meant exclusively for Putnam County residents who are 65 and older is due to arrive the first week of March.

It's not as large as the county asked for from the state, Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell said Monday.

"We hoped for more, but this is still a big increase over the amount we had been getting," she said. "Plus, now we will be able to vaccine seniors who have no comorbidities. That is what we’ve been asking to do all along. We are so glad the state made this important change."

She said state officials told county executives Friday to make formal requests for a supply of Pfizer vaccine that local health departments could use to vaccinate seniors without comorbidities. The county executives were told they could request as much vaccine they could store at sub-zero temperatures and administer to the seniors within seven days.

Putnam County requested 3,000 Pfizer vaccine doses, but will receive 1,170.

The county has not yet received the Pfizer vaccine and has not yet scheduled a POD for senior vaccinations. When the shipment arrives, the health department will set up a link for appointments on its vaccine website.

Until now, the state had allowed local health departments to vaccinate only essential workers, group home residents, the disabled and seniors with comorbidities, and the vaccine supplied was Moderna, which does not require sub-zero refrigeration.

For more information, and to check for upcoming appointments, see the county health department’s COVID-19 vaccine page putnamcountyny.com/covid-19-vaccine-information/.