There will be 3,000-4,000 fewer doses of the coronavirus vaccine going into arms of central New Yorkers this week, compared to last. It’s disturbing to local officials.
Last week, Onondaga County vaccinated 3,600 central New Yorkers. This week, they’ll only get 900 doses, so will only be able to schedule a one-day clinic, according to Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon. He said it’s not just the county that’s pulled back on vaccines. Hospitals won’t get any this week, and supplies to pharmacies are down.
"We took a hit, they took a hit, the fairgrounds took a hit,” McMahon said. “Everybody felt this.”
McMahon said the county has scheduled second doses this week for people who’ve already had the first dose; those vaccines were put aside specifically for that purpose. And unlike some other counties, Onondaga hasn’t had to cancel appointments, because they only booked individuals when the vaccine was in hand. But McMahon doesn’t like seeing an infrastructure that’s set up to vaccinate 1,800 people a week, sitting dormant.
“Our POD is the fastest in the community,” McMahon said. “We’ve been the most efficient. We’ve been recognized by the governor as being the most efficient. For us to be sidelined, a week essentially, there’s no better word than frustrating.”
McMahon is hoping the incoming Biden administration offers a fresh start when it comes to the federal government’s role in the coronavirus pandemic. The vaccine supply comes from the federal government and is funneled through the state. McMahon expects the new administration to be an improvement over the Trump administration.
"I appreciate the focus in on the pandemic,” McMahon said. “I think the outgoing administration dropped the ball completely from getting what could have been one of the most historic accomplishments in modern American history with getting a vaccine, but after the election, everything fell apart.”
