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Onondaga County Gets More COVID-19 Vaccine This Week, But Slots Still Fill In Minutes

Onondaga County Executive's Office
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Onondaga County received an increased allotment of COVID-19 vaccine this week. County Executive Ryan McMahon said they got 1900 doses, compared to last week’s 1200, but appoitments were completely booked in less than 10 minutes. People with compromised immune systems became eligible this week, and 700 of the county’s doses this week are reserved for this group.

McMahon said they also continue outreach to teachers, law enforcement, and those with developmental disabilities. He believes they are close to getting a shot to everyone who wants one in those groups.

“And if we can get into a place where we’re comfortable that some of these other 1b groups have been saturated, maybe then at our pod we will open it up to potentially restaurant workers once we’re comfortable with the data,” said McMahon.

Restaurant workers are currently eligible at the state’s vaccination site at the fairgrounds. Vaccinations remain the county’s top priority at this point in the pandemic. Once more of the county’s population is inoculated, the focus will move forward. McMahon said the next year or two will make apparent the extent of the pandemic’s destruction.

“We’re still going to be feeling the after effects and the impacts, I think, for years to come," said McMahon. "So I think we transition to the immediate public health crisis and then we transition to what rebuilding looks like. And that’s not just from economic stimulus, it’s the fabric of the community has to rebuild again.”

McMahon is hopeful local government aid will be included in the next COVID-19 relief package. He said they’ve already made hard cuts on the county level for 2021, so any direct funding will be used for strategic recovery efforts.

Katie Zilcosky is WAER’s All Things Considered host and features reporter. She also co-hosts WAER’s public affairs show Syracuse Speaks. As a reporter, she focuses on technology, economy, and identity.