Clinton County residents slow to get vaccinated

LOCk HAVEN, PA – As the COVID-19 rate in Clinton County remains at a “substantial” level, county residents are slow to respond to vaccination opportunities in the county.

Previously this year the Clinton County Commissisoners bemoaned the fact that supply was the problem in getting the vaccine to county residents. But based on information at the commissioners’ Monday work session, the vaccine is in the county, but the locals are not overwhelmingly responding.

Becky Levi from UPMC Susquehanna gave the commissioners an update on the UPMC weekly clinic at the Dunnstown Fire Hall. While the clinic is usually held every Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., this week it will be held on Thursday, due to a previously scheduled fire hall event on Wednesday. She said some 550 people are booked for shots this Thursday but the Dunnstown facility has a capacity for up to 1,080 inoculations; Levi said if the demand is there, the clinic could remain open until 8 p.m. She also said UPMC is in touch with the Bucktail Medical Center about the possibility of establishing a clinic at the South Renovo facility, perhaps as early as later this week.

Levi said the Dunnstown clinic so far has administered 3,700 first shots to vaccine recipients. She said in terms of clinic usage, there is room for “a lot more people.” She said perhaps news of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine suspension nationally has made some people hesitant.

County commissioner Angela Harding said COVID cases within Clinton County remain on the rise, that people are symptomatic for the virus and “getting sick.” She urged county residents to “please consider” getting vaccinated in the effort to mitigate COVID in the county.

Levi said county residents can sign up for a shot by calling UPMC Lock Haven at 570-748-1260 or UPMC McElhattan at 570-769-1300.