Scotia virus shots on hold

Shortage of vaccination supplies forces later date, but SUNY has some spots

A plan to administer coronavirus vaccinations in the village is being postponed until at least next month because of a shortage of supply, Mayor Tom Gifford wrote in a letter Tuesday.

“It is with much regret and embarrassment that I write to you to say that my plan for COVID -19 vaccinations is not going to proceed as stated in my letter of last week. Schenectady County has had its supply of vaccine cut even further and the doses promised to the village will not be coming until at least April,” the mayor wrote.

Gifford said the county will be able to inoculate some residents at the vaccination site at SUNY Schenectady.

“We will be calling the people on my list to see who still needs vaccination and then turning the list over to the County for screening,” the mayor wrote. “The original plan seemed better, but without vaccine there is not much we can do.”

A county spokeswoman said Wednesday that the amount of vaccines the county receives from the state can fluctuate from week to week.

“We are working with Mayor Gifford to schedule appointments for seniors at our SUNY Schenectady POD as they become available,” added Erin Roberts.

Three different companies are now manufacturing shots for use in the U.S. and the availability of vaccines has increased in the last month.

In fact, appointments to get a COVID-19 vaccine are opening up across the Capital

Region as supply to the area increases.

A number of local providers were advertising open slots Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the county announced it had vaccinated 322 people over the previous 24-hour period. So far, the county’s public health services department has administered at least one dose to 8,466 people.

On Wednesday, the county reported 27 new cases over the past 24 hours with the death toll from COVID -19 at 145.

Gifford said he was heartened by the the number of people who offered to help with the local effort, saying “the outpouring of support for this effort really shows the strength of our village.”