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.