COVID-19 vaccines to be dispensed in Dover

DOVER PLAINS — Starting Saturday, Jan. 16, eligible residents will be able to get vaccinated against the coronavirus at Dover Middle/High School. 

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro announced the County’s Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH) has established a number of Point of Dispensing (POD) sites where county health workers will administer the vaccines to eligible residents as they become available, with sites in Poughkeepsie and locally, right here in Dover, with a future site in Rhinebeck. 

The sites will be open next week by appointment only from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for those in Phase 1a and 1b as determined by New York State’s Phased Distribution Plan. 

POD locations Wednesday, Jan. 13

Dutchess County Behavioral & Community Health – Mental Health Campus, 230 North Road, Poughkeepsie.

North Road Appointment Registration Link: https://apps.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?DateID=4330

Friday, Jan. 15

Former JCPenney store location, Poughkeepsie Galleria, 2001 South Road, Poughkeepsie.

JCPenney Appointment Registration Link: https://apps.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?DateID=4333

Saturday, Jan. 16

Dover Middle/High School, 2368 Route 22, Dover Plains.

Dover Plains Appointment Registration Link: https://apps.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?DateID=4334.

Additionally, DBCH is partnering with Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck for vaccinations to be available at the Health Annex at Northern Dutchess Hospital located at 107 Montgomery St. Phase 1a includes vaccine distribution for hospital staff, direct care providers and emergency responders.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced last week that individuals in Phase 1b are eligible for vaccination starting Monday, Jan. 11. Phase 1b includes:

· People 75 and older

· Teachers and education workers

· First responders

· Public safety workers

· Public transit workers

“Though New York State’s distribution of COVID-19 vaccine has been slow and sorely lacking, Dutchess County has planned for weeks how to best dispense the doses we do receive efficiently and effectively,” Molinaro stated. “The opening of these initial Points of Dispensing sites is the next step in ensuring eligible residents have access to this life-saving vaccine.”

The PODs will supplement hospitals that are already dispensing vaccines to eligible priority groups. 

The governor announced on Friday, Jan. 7, that the state’s current vaccine supply is extremely limited and that distribution to Phase 1a and 1b could take 14 weeks based on present projections of vaccine availability. Those eligible for the vaccine should anticipate potential delays of several weeks before they get an appointment, as demand far exceeds supply.

“Dutchess County stands ready to quickly dispense each and every dose of vaccine we receive into the arms of eligible residents,” said the county executive. “We encourage residents who are currently eligible to get vaccinated, and we urge patience as this process will take time due to limited vaccine availability. We must continue to all work together to stop the spread of coronavirus — so keep wearing a mask, washing those hands and physical distancing, then get vaccinated as it becomes available to you.”

On Monday, Jan. 11, The New York Times quoted Cuomo from the previous day stating more than 8,400 people are now hospitalized statewide, which is more than twice the number of cases there were at the start of December. New York’s rate of positive test results is now 6.22%, versus 5%, from around Dec. 1. 

On Monday afternoon, Jan. 11, the governor opened a statewide vaccination hot line (1-833-697-4829) for eligible residents to call to schedule appointments to get their vaccinations.

For more on the POD sites in Dutchess County, go to www.dutchessny.gov/covidvaccine. 

— Whitney Joseph

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