Shortage snags nursing home

Scotia was forced to cancel vaccine plans

Supply shortages forced the village of Scotia to nix its plan to administrator coronavirus vaccinations earlier this week.

Among the local facilities on tenterhooks is the Holiday at the Atrium in Glenville, where residents are awaiting shots.

“We have been working with a local pharmacy to host a clinic at a sister community,” said Alyssa Cerrito, a spokesperson for Holiday Retirement. “We are waiting for confirmation, but hoping to have a date by next week.”

Nursing homes were the first tranche of vaccinations for distribution late December. But Holiday at the Atrium is an independent living center, and not prioritized by the federal government, Cerrito said.

If any of the 82 residents have been vaccinated, they’ve done so on their own, Cerrito said. The facility has worked “around the clock” to secure access.

Once the clinic is secured, the community will arrange transportation for residents.

The impasse has rattled some family members, including Jeff Tamarkin, who called it “appalling ” that as someone in his 60s, he could get two shots, but his 100-year-old mother hasn't had access.

“It’s just reached a stalemate,” he said. “Nobody seems to want to give them the time of day.”

The delay comes as village officials on Tuesday were forced to postpone previously announced vaccine distribution plans, citing supply cuts at the county level.

“With an average weekly allotment of 500 first-dose vaccines from New York State, and thousands of eligible residents on the pre-registration list, it will take some time to get to everyone,” said Schenectady County spokesperson Erin Roberts. The county is encouraging eligible residents who are able to travel and have access to transportation to find appointments at other Capital Region sites, including pharmacies and state-run sites like SUNY Albany.

Despite the impasse, Holiday has zero active cases of patients or staff, Cerrito said on Thursday.