Southern Tier counties and private healthcare providers are suspending distribution of the Johnson & Johnson one-shot COVID-19 vaccine after reports of complications among some recipients.
The health agencies released a statement Tuesday morning recommending the pause “out of an abundance of caution,” saying blood clots still seem to be “extremely rare.” So far, the CDC and FDA are reviewing six reported cases in the U.S.
New York, Pennsylvania, area counties follow federal recommendations We want people to be safe, said Tioga County Public Health Educator Katie Wait, who said both the county Health Department and United Health Services have offered clinics with the one-shot vaccine but will suspend further clinics for now.
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The Yates County Health Department has new leadership.
Annmarie Flanagan was unanimously appointed by the Yates County Legislature to serve as director of public health.
Former director Deb Minor retired earlier this winter after serving Yates County for more than 30 years. She served as director for the final 12 years of her career- over the last two- holding a joint-position covering both Schuyler and Yates counties.
“Deb has done an excellent job for the county and we will miss her terribly,” Chairman Doug Paddock said. “However, we welcome Annmarie as our new director of public health. I have no doubt that she will pick up where Deb left off and not miss a beat.” He said that the County was fortunate to have someone with Flanagan’s qualifications take up the position.
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Deb Minor has worked in the Yates County Health Department for 31 years. In late-January, she provided her last update to the legislature on the coronavirus pandemic.
It was good news on infection numbers, but bad news on vaccine distribution. “The number of new positive cases is going down,” she said. “That is good news and I hope it continues.”
However, to date the county has only received 700 total doses of the COVID-19 vaccine since mid-December. It translates to about 100 doses per week. “We continue to get small amounts coming in. One hundred doses does not go very far in a week,” Minor continued.