Politics & Government
Montco Mass COVID-19 Vaccine Site Closed, As All First Doses Used
Montgomery County has run out of first doses, and the mass vaccination site at Norristown Area HS has been closed for the rest of the week.
NORRISTOWN, PA — In another sign of the ongoing national shortage of coronavirus vaccine, Montgomery County has now run out of first doses, they announced Wednesday. It's led to a closure of the mass vaccination clinic at Norristown Area High School.
The county received just a thousand first doses last week, and they were all used up by the end of the day Tuesday, Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh said.
It's believed the county will receive 3,900 more doses of the vaccine on Thursday. The Norristown clinic will reopen on Monday, and will remain open as long as sufficient shipments of vaccine are received.
Find out what's happening in Norristownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
>>4 More Cases Of U.K. Variant Confirmed In Montgomery County Wednesday
Montgomery County is not the only county receiving significantly fewer doses than it was just weeks ago. Lehigh County is among those who have expressed similar reductions in quantities. This is due to an expanded number of providers, stretching the available supply to more than 1,600 locations statewide. On Tuesday, state officials said it was an issue they were aware of, but provided no specifics as to how they're addressing it.
Find out what's happening in Norristownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"We are working to ensure that it's (distribution) equitable," Department of Health Senior Advisor Lindsey Mauldin said.
The small bit of good news is the county does continue to receive second doses. They have 5,800 second doses in hand, and that vaccine is still being administered at the Montgomery County Community College site in Blue Bell. That site is only open for people receiving their second doses.
There are now 153,502 people pre-registered for vaccine and in the wait line to receive doses. That means the line is some 13,000 more people deeper than it was just a week ago. Arkoosh said it could "easily" take up to 12 weeks or longer before residents hear back details on when their appointment will be scheduled.
Montgomery County has now partially vaccinated 61,689 individuals, while 17,363 partial vaccinations have been administered.
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