County opens scheduling at 6 clinics to all over 16
As Montgomery County officials expanded vaccine registration eligibility, they also reported that more than 600 county residents tested positive for the coronavirus and two more people died from the virus during the most recent three-day period.
The 620 daily new positive COVID-19 cases, reported in the county during the three-day period Saturday through Monday, brought the county’s total number of positive cases to 53,759 since March 7, 2020, when the first
two cases of the virus were identified in the county, according to the county’s COVID-19 online dashboard. Three of the daily new cases were individuals who resided in long-term care facilities and one was an inmate at the county jail.
Officials also reported two additional COVID-19 deaths during the threeday period, bringing the county’s death toll to 1,270 since the pandemic began a year ago.
Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported on Monday that 131,853 county residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, receiving either the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine or both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, during the state’s ongoing vaccine distribution program. Another 183,952 county residents have received a first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, according to state data.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses to achieve optimum
protection.
On Monday, the county Office of Public Health expanded the eligibility to register for the COVID-19 vaccine to now include everyone age 16 and over.
Appointments are required to receive the vaccine. All those eligible for the vaccine can pre-register to receive the vaccine through the county Office of Public Health. The preregistration link can be found at www.montcopa. org/COVID-19 under the green vaccination information button.
Residents who don’t have internet access can call the county’s COVID-19 hotline at (833) 875-3967 to connect with a volunteer who can assist them in pre-registering for a vaccine.
The county Office of Public Health currently is operating six vaccination clinics at the following locations: Norristown High School; the Montgomery County Community College campus in Whitpain; the Parkside Shopping Center, in the former Petco location, in Willow Grove; Trinity Lutheran Church, 1000 W. Main St.,
in Lansdale; Bethel Community Church, 575 N. Keim St., in Pottstown; and Bethlehem Baptist Church, 712 Penllyn Pike, Spring House, on Saturdays only.
Hours vary and do include weekend and evening hours on some days at some of the clinics, officials said. No walk-up registration is accepted.
The county vaccination clinics are currently offering the Pfizer two-dose and Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccines. When booking an appointment, people will be able to pick the
date, time, location, and which vaccine they want to receive, officials said.
When registering, if people experience longer than normal wait times on the COVID-19 hotline or experience a website timeout, they are encouraged to come back to register at a different date or time, officials said.
Officials cautioned that eligibility does not equal availability. Appointments will be released in accordance with vaccine supply.
Additionally, testing is still available for all county residents and those who work in the county and want or need to be tested. The county established outdoor walk-up testing sites in Pottstown, Norristown, Lansdale, Willow Grove, Ardmore and Green Lane to accommodate those who want to be tested.
The six county-run sites provide self-administered tests at no cost, although insurance will be billed if you have it. The sites do require an appointment for testing.
The six sites are open
Monday through Friday, weather permitting and at varying hours. Same-day appointments can be made weekdays starting at 7 a.m. by visiting www.montcopa. org/COVID-19 and clicking on the county testing information button. Residents can also register for a test at any of the six sites by calling 610-970-2937 beginning at 8:30 a.m. daily.
In Pottstown, the testing site is located at the county’s Office of Public Health Pottstown Health Center at 364 King St.
In Norristown, a testing site is located on the parking lot of the Delaware Valley Community Health Norristown Regional Health Center at 1401 DeKalb St.
In Lansdale, a testing site is located at 421 Main St. Another testing site is located at Deep Creek and Snyder roads in the Green Lane Park area.
In Ardmore, a testing site is located at 114 W. Lancaster Ave. In Willow Grove, a testing site is at First Baptist Church - Crestmont, 1678 Fairview Ave.