First vaccines in Chenango County will go to health-care facilities and first-responders
(Sun File Photo)
CHENANGO COUNTY – The New York State Governor's Office recently announced that the Southern Tier was getting 4,500 vaccines, but local emergency response leaders have a number of concerns.
According to Chenango County Fire Bureau Coordinator Matthew Beckwith, the 4,500 vaccines will be split between the nine counties in the Southern Tier, but certain people have been designated to receive the vaccination first.
Beckwith said nursing home residents and staff workers, along with emergency personnel including firefighters and EMS workers will be vaccinated first.
“4,500 vaccines just isn’t enough for the majority of people in Chenango County, let alone the Southern Tier,” said Beckwith. “We take a large portion of that just in first responders, we have roughly 680 fire and EMS personnel here.”
“Yes it’s great that the vaccine is coming, but not everyone is going to be vaccinated before Christmas.”
He said the lack of information from the Governor’s office on when the vaccines will be handed over the counties has made planning more difficult. He added that the counties likely won’t know more until the FDA approves the vaccine for emergency use.
“The number one focus is on the nursing home residents, they’re being impacted tremendously by COVID-19, and they represent one of our most vulnerable populations,” said Beckwith. “People have to understand that we have to take care of the people who need it most first.”
“We’ve been given a list of priority people from the governor’s office, and we have to abide by that, and it’s not going to trickle down to the main populace for this round.”
Beckwith said while the county prepares for its portion of vaccines, medical centers around the Southern Tier are hitting maximum capacity due to a rise in coronavirus cases and the flu. He said a hospital in Binghamton recently hit maximum capacity, and if people aren’t safe the same could happen in the Chenango County area as well.
“I just talked with our hospital this morning, and right now its capacity is good,” he added. “They’re getting a lot of people coming in with colds that aren’t COVID-19 related, but the numbers are increasing in the area for coronavirus cases.”
He said as time passes and we get closer to Christmas and New Year’s Eve, it’s important that families avoid unnecessary gatherings and Chenango County residents maintain social distancing guidelines in public.
“Listen, we’re seeing increasing numbers, and it’s important people wear masks,” said Beckwith. “As of today, there are 480 people in quarantine, and you don’t know who has it and who doesn’t.”
“Take steps to keep yourself and your family safe, and limit unnecessary exposure.”
According to Chenango County Fire Bureau Coordinator Matthew Beckwith, the 4,500 vaccines will be split between the nine counties in the Southern Tier, but certain people have been designated to receive the vaccination first.
Beckwith said nursing home residents and staff workers, along with emergency personnel including firefighters and EMS workers will be vaccinated first.
“4,500 vaccines just isn’t enough for the majority of people in Chenango County, let alone the Southern Tier,” said Beckwith. “We take a large portion of that just in first responders, we have roughly 680 fire and EMS personnel here.”
“Yes it’s great that the vaccine is coming, but not everyone is going to be vaccinated before Christmas.”
He said the lack of information from the Governor’s office on when the vaccines will be handed over the counties has made planning more difficult. He added that the counties likely won’t know more until the FDA approves the vaccine for emergency use.
“The number one focus is on the nursing home residents, they’re being impacted tremendously by COVID-19, and they represent one of our most vulnerable populations,” said Beckwith. “People have to understand that we have to take care of the people who need it most first.”
“We’ve been given a list of priority people from the governor’s office, and we have to abide by that, and it’s not going to trickle down to the main populace for this round.”
Beckwith said while the county prepares for its portion of vaccines, medical centers around the Southern Tier are hitting maximum capacity due to a rise in coronavirus cases and the flu. He said a hospital in Binghamton recently hit maximum capacity, and if people aren’t safe the same could happen in the Chenango County area as well.
“I just talked with our hospital this morning, and right now its capacity is good,” he added. “They’re getting a lot of people coming in with colds that aren’t COVID-19 related, but the numbers are increasing in the area for coronavirus cases.”
He said as time passes and we get closer to Christmas and New Year’s Eve, it’s important that families avoid unnecessary gatherings and Chenango County residents maintain social distancing guidelines in public.
“Listen, we’re seeing increasing numbers, and it’s important people wear masks,” said Beckwith. “As of today, there are 480 people in quarantine, and you don’t know who has it and who doesn’t.”
“Take steps to keep yourself and your family safe, and limit unnecessary exposure.”
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