Post 178’s clinic canceled after J&J vaccine put on pause

MILLERTON — There was last minute word on Tuesday morning, April 13, just before this paper went to press, that the COVID-19 vaccination clinic scheduled at the Legion Post Hall for Friday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., had been canceled.

“The FDA/CDC is recommending a pause on the J&J Vaccine,” emailed Post 178 Historian Sean Klay, who had been instrumental in coordinating the vaccination clinic and getting word out to the community. “I assume it will affect our Pop Up Friday. More to follow.”

Less than half an hour later, Klay followed up with another email.

“I just heard back from [the county executive’s office] a few moments ago. They will NOT be administering the J&J vaccine this Friday and are currently reevaluating their options at this time,” he wrote. “For the moment, that is all I’ve got.”

It had taken a lot of planning and some secrecy for Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro’s office and the Millerton American Legion Post 178 when they released word last week that they were planning to distribute approximately 100 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on the 16th.

According to a breaking news report from The New York Times on April 13, “The U.S. will seek to pause Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine after six women developed rare blood clots… All six recipients were women between the ages of 18 and 48. One woman died and a second woman in Nebraska has been hospitalized in critical condition, the officials said.”

According to the Times, the J&J shots have been given to approximately 7 million people in the U.S. thus far. Some were in Dutchess County.

Roughly 35 residents had signed up for the Millerton clinic by Tuesday morning, according to Communications Director for the Dutchess County Executive Office Colleen T. Pillus.

“They will be emailed with the option of rescheduling at one of the county’s upcoming fixed POD vaccination events this week and next, either at JCPenney or in Dover where Moderna vaccines will be administered,” she stated after confirming the DBCH canceled the Millerton clinic, “until those federal health and safety agencies evaluate next steps.”

New York eligibility

On Tuesday, April 6, anyone age 16 and older who resides, works or studies in New York State became eligible to be vaccinated, with parental consent. The Am I Eligible app is probably the quickest way to check eligibility; residents may also make an appointment by calling the New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline at 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829). 

President Biden declared on Tuesday, April 9, that as of Monday, April 19, all adult Americans will be eligible, moving up his previous target date by two weeks.

Dutchess County has also been proactive — promoting its pop-up clinics throughout the Hudson Valley for the past few months, including locally in Pine Plains, Millbrook and Dover. Pop-up clinics have been given in high schools, churches and plazas. Vaccines have also been distributed in pharmacies and doctors’ offices throughout the above towns and villages as well as in Amenia and much of Columbia County. Vaccines are also being given in firehouses, in mobile vans, anywhere patients and practitioners can safely meet to have the precious serum injected into eligible arms.

To schedule an appointment through the county, residents are urged to go online and fill out a form immediately.

“Appointments for the Community Pop Up Clinics work similarly to appointments at our fixed Points of Dispensing [PODs] at JCPenney in Poughkeepsie and in Dover — residents should complete our Vaccine Information Request Form to get on our notification list,” said Dutchess County Executive’s Office Communications Director Colleen T. Pillus. “We will pull names to notify from that list for available appointments.”  

How to register

To fill out the form, go to www.dutchessny.gov/vaccination-Information/vaccine-information-form.aspx.

County COVID stats

As of Wednesday, April 7, according to the Dutchess County COVID-19 Community Impact Dashboard, 635,289 tests have been completed county-wide; there were 26,776 confirmed cases as of that date, with 1,320 active cases, 67 hospitalizations and 426 COVID-related deaths. The positivity rate for Dutchess County (a seven-day rolling average) was 4.53% as of the 7th.

Also as of the 7th, according to the state’s vaccine tracker, 106,041 Dutchess County residents (36.1% of the population) have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine and 61,425 county residents (20.9% of the population) have completed the vaccine series. 

The county is asking residents who have already been vaccinated and completed its vaccination request form to remove themselves from the list by completing the form at www.dutchessny.gov/GotMyVaccine to help expedite notification about appointments available at county sites to others waiting to be vaccinated. 

Free transportation to vaccine sites

Meanwhile, Molinaro announced on Friday, April 9, that by that Saturday, April 10, Dutchess County Public Transit would begin to offer free transportation to residents with COVID-19 vaccination appointments at the county’s two fixed PODs — in Poughkeepsie and in Dover Plains — and at future sites. Advanced registration for transportation and appointments  at vaccination sites are required.

“Removing barriers for those looking to obtain this life-saving vaccine,” said Molinaro, is essential to “expand residents’ accessibility.”

Residents will have to present proof of their vaccine appointment — a paper or digital ticket — to Public Transit drivers when they board a bus to and from the vaccination site.

For details, call at 845-473-8424 or go to www.dutchessny.gov/publictransit.