Clarion Hospital’s chief nursing officer said Tuesday the hospital is providing COVID-19 vaccines to between 700 and 800 people a day.
“That is a pretty comfortable number with the vaccine and staff we have,” Leslie Walters said.
Walters said the hospital had administered more than 10,000 vaccines after Tuesday. About 9,000 shots have been given at the former Peebles store at the Clarion Mall since the beginning of February.
“Those 12,000 vaccinations probably represent a quarter of the population,” said Steven Davis, the Clarion Hospital president. “Remember people under 16 are not eligible for either vaccine. They have to be over 18 for the Moderna vaccine. Probably 25 to 30% of the population have been vaccinated,” Davis added.
Davis said there are still many in the community in the 16 to 64 age group who are eligible and haven’t been vaccinated.
“That is who we are targeting right now,” said Davis.
Walters said many of these people may be working and aren’t able to come during the hours the clinic is open.
“We are working on a mailing to every boxholder in Clarion and Forest counties to let them know it is available,” said Clarion County Commissioner Ted Tharan. He said FEMA will pay for the mailing.
Davis said the supply of the vaccine has been good.
Clarion Hospital isn’t currently using the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
“We haven’t received any information from the Department of Health that we would be receiving the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. It seems like at this point the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is being steered toward the educational system,” said Walters. “If we would receive it we would be happy to give it.”
“We will continue to fulfill our mission of getting shots in arms,” said Davis. “We can expand if we need to.”