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LOCK HAVEN -- It seems it wasn't long ago that locals were complaining there wasn't enough vaccine coming into Clinton County to vaccinate its residents against COVID 19.
On Monday morning, however, the county commissioners were told there is plenty of vaccine available from UPMC Susquehanna's program for local people, but people aren't calling to schedule appointments and receive shots.
UPMC Susquehanna's Becky Levi updated the commissioners on the vaccine being distributed from the Dunnstown Clinic at its weekly vaccination events at Monday morning's commissioners' work session.
She said 3,700 first shots have been administered at the weekly clinic so far.
This week, the normal Wednesday clinic at Dunnstown is being held on Thursday due to a conflict, and Levi said a lot more vaccinations could be given on that day if people scheduled appointments.
"So far we have 550 people scheduled for shots this Thursday. We have a capacity to vaccinate 1,080. We can take a lot more people … at least 1,000 or more…. and also increase our normal 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. clinic hours if we have more people sign up. We have to get the word out and get more people calling and scheduling appointments for shots," she said.
She said news of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine suspension nationally may be a reason why more residents aren't calling for the shots.
Levi said UPMC is also working to set up another vaccine clinic at Bucktail Medical Center.
To schedule an appointment at the Dunnstown Clinic call Lock Haven Family Medicine at 570-748-1260 or UPMC McElhattan at 570-769-1300.
Commissioner Angela Harding asked Levi if she had numbers on how many of the 3,700 who have received their first shots are Clinton County residents. Levi said most of these people are from this area, but she didn't have an exact number.
Whatever the reason for the lower than expected turnout for vaccines, Harding said symptomatic cases of coronavirus continue to increase and people are getting sick. She urged all Clinton Countians to make appointments and receive the vaccinations. She said these cases are symptomatic and people are getting sick.
Commissioner Miles Kessinger thanked Levi and UPMC for setting up a vaccine clinic in Clinton County.