County ramps up vaccine program
Pre-registration opens for those 65 and older or with health risks
NORRISTOWN » As Montgomery County officials make plans to ramp up a COVID-19 vaccination program, they reported on Wednesday that 270 people tested positive for the virus, bringing the county’s total number of cases to 37,918 since March 7, when the first two cases of the virus were identified in the county.
Fourteen of the daily new cases were individuals who resided in long-term care facilities, officials said. The new positive individuals included 120 males and 150 females who ranged in age from 1 to 99 and resided in 42 municipalities.
Officials also reported seven more deaths from the virus on
Wednesday, bringing the county’s death toll to 1,087 since the pandemic began in March. The seven individuals ranged in age from 77 to 106.
“However, I do want to note that (Tuesday) we reported the youngest individual at 25 years of age to die from COVID-19 in Montgomery County and today, we report the oldest individual
at 106,” county Commissioners’ Chairwoman Dr. Valerie Arkoosh said during her weekly news briefing on Wednesday.
Since March, a total of 564 females and 523 males have died from the virus in the county.
Last week, the Montgomery County Office of Public Health began vaccinating, at a public vaccination clinic hosted by Montgomery County Community College, those healthcare workers eligible in Phase 1A of the state’s vaccination plan. At the clinic, officials are administering 1,000 doses each day.
Officials estimated there are about 10,500 individuals in the Phase 1A category remaining to be vaccinated.
Phase 1A includes health care personnel, and residents and staff of long-term care facilities. The vaccination at long-term care facilities is being completed through a federal partnership with CVS and Walgreens pharmacies.
“Extremely limited quantities of vaccine are available. Montgomery County is still only vaccinating frontline healthcare workers in Phase 1A. But I am so encouraged by the enthusiasm that so many people have to be vaccinated,” Arkoosh said. “As soon as we have more vaccine available we will continue to open up more appointments.”
Officials hope they can open a second vaccination clinic in the county later this month.
“But it is going to depend entirely upon how much vaccine we receive. We’re going to look at all of our options,” said Arkoosh, who did not identify the potential area being considered for a second vaccination site. “Sites are being scouted as I speak. As soon as we have that finalized we’ll be happy to share it.”
Earlier this week, federal health officials urged states to begin vaccinating other groups including those 65 and older.
“Montgomery County is taking additional steps to set the groundwork to vaccinate more people who work or live in our county. Anyone who is 65 or older and individuals who have health conditions that qualify them for Phase 1B or 1C can now pre-register to receive the vaccine on our website,” Arkoosh said.
The pre-registration link can be found at www.montcopa.org/COVID-19 under the vaccination information