A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
By Andy Gardner
Akwesasne residents will be able to get COVID-19 vaccinations at the New York State-run regional vaccination clinic at SUNY Potsdam, which should be ramping up to performing 1,000 vaccinations per day, according to a top local health official.
Dr. Andrew Williams discussed the clinic’s opening during a Tuesday, Jan. 19 Zoom call with members of the local press. He is president of the St. Lawrence County Board of Health, an associate chief medical officer of St. Lawrence Health System, and chief medical officer for Community Health Centers of the North Country.
“I believe [Akwesasne residents] have the option to schedule at the state site. They could also go to their tribal services,” the doctor said.
Although they’re scheduling 500 appointments per day, that’s expected to ramp up to 1,000 per day.
“The site was designed to vaccinate more than 1,000 individuals per day, with a plan to ramp up to these levels over the next several weeks,” he said.
Anyone looking to schedule a vaccination appointment at the Potsdam clinic can check their eligibility status at https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov and click “Get Started” at the bottom of the page. It will ask questions to determine if the person is eligible under the current phase. For those who are, it will send them to a new page to schedule their shot.
Potsdam’s is one of two regional clinics in the seven-county North Country region with the other in Plattsburgh.
There will be smaller clinics opening in Massena, Ogdensburg, Gouverneur, and Star Lake. Dr. Williams said they are close to announcing the specific locations, which he expects sometime next week.
“St. Lawrence County has been working with the different communities and determining appropriate location, most accessible sites,” he said. “There’s an emphasis on making sure … all have adequate access.”
He said the ability to offer vaccinations at the five clinics depends on federal vaccine supply, which goes to the states and from there are distributed for injections.
“If any place in New York State is going to get the vaccine, it’s going to be the New York State-designated vaccination sites,” Dr. Williams said, which includes SUNY Potsdam. “As the county gets more vaccine and the hospital gets more vaccine, these smaller sites will open and allow individuals to schedule appointments.”
He said local, county, and state health officials chose SUNY Potsdam’s Maxcy Hall for a regional clinic because it has a lot of space, it’s well-ventilated and it “allows for a COVID-safe experience.” Those showing up for vaccinations are required to wear masks and social distance, and they are screened for COVID-19 symptoms before entering. The doctor said Maxcy is also accessible for anyone with mobility challenges, and wheelchairs are available there.
Vaccination is done by appointment only. Walk-ins are turned away. Dr. Williams said that although there were some problems with the state website used to make appointments to get vaccinated, that’s getting better.
“Right now, the appointments are scheduling in mid-February, and there are a few appointments available at that time and afterward,” he said.
“The site is open to the entire region, and it’s designed to serve the entire region, not just St. Lawrence County,” the doctor said.
He said the North Country and St. Lawrence County have done well with getting vaccines injected into arms rather than letting them sit in refrigerators.
“There’s a big emphasis on not wasting any vaccine. If there are any doses available at the end of the day, the staff at the vaccination site are going to contact priority 1A and 1B individuals on a standby list,” he said.
The state is doling out vaccines in a three-phased system. Right now, we’re in the 1B subphase of phase one. The “individuals on a standby list” Williams mentioned are mostly law enforcement and first responders, who are part of phase 1B. Phase 1A was mostly high-risk healthcare workers and long-term care facility residents. There’s no certain answer from the state on when things will move to the next subphase, 1C, and from there to phase two.
COVID-19 vaccination requires two shots. Currently, there are vaccines available from Pfizer and Moderna. The Pfizer vaccine requires a booster after 21 days and 28 days for Moderna. Dr. Williams said people should not get their booster too close to the initial shot.
“The downside would be to get it too early,” he said. “We’re strongly encouraging people to stick with the 21 or 28 days.”
“We think the vaccine will still be effective if the second shot is delayed,” Dr. Williams added.
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