LVHN’s first vaccine clinic at Dorney Park fully booked — and in less than 24 hours
Lehigh Valley Health Network’s first mass vaccination clinic at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom next week was fully booked in less than 24 hours, hospital officials said Thursday.
The drive-through clinic is planned from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the South Whitehall Township amusement park, where LVHN plans to vaccinate those 75 and older who were able to make an appointment.
Future dates for the clinic have not been announced. It’s not clear how many doses will be given Wednesday, said hospital spokesman Brian Downs, though LVHN officials have said they hoped to administer up to 5,000 vaccinations per clinic.
Those who are eligible for the first phase of vaccinations are urged to use MyLVHN, the health network’s free patient portal, to schedule an appointment. They will be notified when more vaccine is available, Downs said. People can enroll in MyLVHN at LVHN. org/vaccines by clicking “sign up” at the top of the page.
Although those 65 and older are now included in Pennsylvania’s first phase of the vaccine roll out, LVHN limited the first clinic to older adults because of limited supplies.
The operation at Dorney Park will mirror the health network’s free drive-through flu vaccination clinic that takes place every fall. In November, the clinic’s 23rd year, LVHN gave almost 8,000 flu vaccinations over two days at Dorney Park and CocaCola Park in east Allentown.
LVHN plans to expand the mass COVID-19 immunization program. Sites in Northampton and Monroe counties are being established in coordination with local health bureaus and authorities. An appointment is needed to receive the vaccine at all LVHN locations.
St. Luke’s University Health Network is also offering the vaccine at 11 hospital campuses throughout the greater Lehigh Valley. The network said it has vaccinated 55 people per hour per site.
The network said registration can be done at www.sluhn.org/vaccine. Also, people who are eligible can call 866-STLUKES.