Clinton County Health Dept. News Release
Plattsburgh, April 9, 2021. The number of Clinton County residents who have received the COVID-19 vaccine continues to steadily increase. As of April 4, 2021, 51% of eligible residents had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 37% of eligible residents had received two doses of vaccine, according to the North Country Hub. However, health officials are concerned that many residents are becoming lax in their efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community.
“We have said this many times before, but we cannot emphasize it enough. As much as we want to be done with this virus and pandemic, we are not there yet. Residents must continue to be vigilant,” urged John Kanoza, Director of Public Health in Clinton County. “Our contact tracing and case investigation team continue to consistently see at least 20 to 30 new COVID-19 positive cases per day. Cases are not limited to one specific geographic area or population—they continue to be spread throughout the County, affecting residents of all ages,” noted Mr. Kanoza.
“If you aren’t feeling well, isolate yourself from others, get tested, and remain at home while you wait for your results. We are seeing many instances where people are having symptoms, but continue to go to work, school, gatherings, and travel, often not getting tested or isolating until their symptoms worsen or others around them become sick as well. In the meantime, they’re exposing a large number of people unnecessarily,” stated Mr. Kanoza. “This isn’t over, covid is still here, and your individual actions matter,” pleaded Mr. Kanoza.
Residents are encouraged to:
Stay home if you are sick.
Wear a mask that goes over your nose AND mouth.
Keep at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and others who do not live in your household.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
Avoid crowds and gatherings.
Get your COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you are eligible.
Currently, all New York State residents aged 16 years and older are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccines are approved for use in individuals aged 18 years and older, and Pfizer vaccine is approved for use in people aged 16 years and older.
“We are hopeful that as more eligible residents are fully vaccinated we will see cases of COVID-19 decrease, but I can’t stress enough, we are not there yet,” stated Mr. Kanoza. Individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose of vaccine if they’ve received Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. Johnson & Johnson vaccine is only one dose; individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after vaccination.
As vaccine becomes more widely available, residents now have many options on where to get their vaccine. In addition to vaccination clinics operated by the Clinton County Health Department (CCHD), a State Vaccination Site is available in Clinton County, and many local pharmacies and some provider offices are now offering COVID-19 vaccines. Residents may visit https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/ or https://vaccinefinder.org/search/ to find a vaccination site near them.
CCHD’s next vaccination clinic is scheduled for Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at St. Edmund’s Church on Route 11 in Ellenburg Center. The clinic is open to all Clinton County Residents aged 18 years and older. Moderna vaccine will be provided. To register yourself or a loved one, residents may visit www.clintonhealth.org/covid19 or https://on.ny.gov/2PNFTZJ. For assistance registering, residents may call CCHD at 518-565-4840.
Participants will be required to show identification and proof of residency or employment in Clinton County. Vaccination guidance requires participants to receive both their first and second doses from the same agency. A second dose is due at a minimum of 28 days after the first dose. Information on a second dose clinic will be sent to participants directly when the time comes to receive that dose.
“We are working hard to ensure all eligible residents are able to access vaccine,” stated Mr. Kanoza. “In the upcoming weeks, residents will continue to see additional clinics offered in other areas of the county, outside of Plattsburgh. We will continue to update our website and advertise through local media, as soon as dates and locations of clinics are finalized,” noted Mr. Kanoza. CCHD’s website may be accessed at www.clintonhealth.org.
About the Clinton County Health Department:
The Health Department is an accredited full service department serving the residents of Clinton County. The Health Department’s Mission is to improve and protect the health, well-being and environment of the people of Clinton County. Visit our website at www.clintonhealth.org or connect with us on Facebook (@clintonhealth), Twitter (@ClintonCountyHD), and Instagram (clintoncountyhealth).
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Posted: April 9th, 2021 under County Government News, Heathcare News, Northern NY News, Peru/Regional History.