By Jason Kaplan
Over nine percent of the United States population has already received the COVID-19 vaccination and New York is preparing to open up inoculations to another segment of the population starting Feb. 15. Although the list is subject to change, residents of any age with certain medical conditions will be eligible to receive the shot.
As more people are being vaccinated and taking extra precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, numbers have been tracking downward. Last week, Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said an average of 222 positive cases are reported per day. Previous weekly averages were 273, 283, and 298 daily cases.
“We are heading in the right direction,” Neuhaus said during one of his daily reports. “The vaccine is helping us head in the right direction.”
Since the start of the pandemic, over 32,830 people have tested positive for the virus in Orange County. Of those cases, over 685 have resulted in death. As of Feb. 4, Cornwall had 41 active cases, down 50 percent from nearly a month prior. As of Feb. 9, Highlands had 42 active cases, down from as high as 150 several weeks ago.
The state is receiving approximately 250,000 to 300,000 vaccine doses per week with more than seven million residents, including doctors, nurses and health care workers, people age 65 and over, first responders, teachers, public transit workers, grocery store workers and public safety workers being eligible as part of Phase 1A and 1B distribution.
The county has been administering vaccines out of its offices located at 23 Hatfield Lane in Goshen. The clinic operates on Thursday and last week 900 first doses were given and 1,063 the week prior.
The Department of Health is asking those who want to receive the vaccine to sign up at https://vaccination.orangecountygov.com/ or call the Orange County Office for the Aging, at 845-615-3700, if they don’t have access to a computer.
The purpose of this form is to gather contact information for individuals wishing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as it becomes available. Filling out the form, however, does not guarantee someone will receive a vaccine.
Those who register are placed on a waiting list and then called to schedule an appointment.
New York State has established state-operated sites across the state. Residents can utilize the State’s online “Am I Eligible?” tool at https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/ to determine if they are currently eligible for vaccinations and, if so, will see a list of those state-operated locations where appointments may be available. Additionally, New York State has begun limited distribution of the vaccine to various pharmacy locations throughout the state.
Last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced 35 community-based pop-up vaccination sites will be opening at churches, community centers, public housing complexes and cultural centers. Six locations were opened in the Hudson Valley including the Newburgh Armory Unity Center and Beulah Baptist Church located in Poughkeepsie.
