Lower Bucks Vaccine Clinic To Close, Hospital Pushes Back (ICYMI)

BRISTOL, PA — Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol is pushing back against a state decision they say would close the COVID-19 vaccine clinic there.

According to the hospital, state officials said last Thursday that they will only be sending Lower Bucks enough vaccine to give second doses to people who have already gotten a first shot there.

The hospital, which opened its vaccine clinic in February, has been giving about 400 vaccines a day to people who registered for one through Bucks County's website.

On Thursday, a spokeswoman said the hospital has reached out to the Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership and local political leaders to try to prevent closing.

"We know this will be a bumpy road, but we are trying to reverse the decision," said Michelle Alliprantis.

Officials say the move is part of a push by the state to shift toward fewer and larger regional vaccine providers. The Pennsylvania Department of Health plans a mass clinic in southeastern Pennsylvania — with reports saying it would be at Montgomery Mall in Montgomeryville, just across the Bucks County line in Montgomery County.

That's been greeted as unwelcome news by local officials in Bucks and other suburban Philadelphia counties, who want the state to send more vaccine to existing, county-run sites.

Alliprantis said Lower Bucks Hospital offers easy access to elderly people who need shots, as well as having an emergency room team available for anyone who has a bad reaction to the shots.

"Our goal is to continue with accommodating people who meet the 1A criteria," she said. "Unfortunately, this is out of our hands."