Press-Republican
Saranac Lake Middle School social studies teacher Dwight Stevenson is among the first group of people to be vaccinated against COVID-19 at a state Department of Health-run vaccine clinic in Plattsburgh on Monday, Jan. 18.
(Photo provided by Dwight Stevenson) PLATTSBURGH A North Country Chamber of Commerce webinar gathered regional healthcare professionals Wednesday morning and the message was clear: Get the COVID vaccine ASAP. University of Vermont Health Network, Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Vice President of Population Health and Information Services Dr. Wouter Rietsema was one of five panelists and called the available COVID vaccines “miraculous.” “We have vaccines that prevent 95% of a disease that’s unheard of in vaccinations,” Rietsema said, noting that a “good” flu vaccine was closer to the 50% range.
0:56
A fully vaccinated resident of the Skilled Nursing Facility at the Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh has tested positive for COVID-19.
The hospital says the unidentified resident is asymptomatic. The person had been vaccinated before the positive test result, which was returned Friday after a routine test prior to a scheduled procedure.
Infectious Disease specialist and CVPH Vice President for Population Health and Information Services Dr. Wouter Rietsema said the vaccine appears to be “doing its job to keep this individual from getting seriously ill.”
Employees and residents of the Skilled Nursing Facility implemented immediate safety protocols including quarantine and testing.
3:22
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is pushing hospitals across the state to step up their rate of COVID-19 vaccinations. The medical center in Plattsburgh reports that most of the allotment that the North Country has received has been used.
During his COVID-19 update on Monday New York Governor Andrew Cuomo lambasted some hospitals across the state for low COVID-19 vaccination rates. He also praised high performing hospitals including the Adirondack Medical Center. The Saranac Lake hospital was placed in the top tier with an 87% vaccination rate. He warned low performing hospitals that they risk receiving further allocations if they don’t step up their vaccination rates. “We want those vaccines in people’s arms. New York state Department of Health sent out a letter to all hospitals that said if you don’t use the allocation by the end of this week, the allocation you have received by the end of this week, you can be fined and you won’t receive further allocations.
Murky rollout accompanies COVID vaccine arrival in north country nny360.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nny360.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
3:40
The Clinton County Health Department held a virtual update on the status of the pandemic in New York’s northernmost county including a look at the start of vaccinations at the local medical center.
Since the Thanksgiving holiday the Clinton County Health Department has seen over 200 new COVID-19 cases in the county. Director of Public Health John Kanoza said there are now 132 active cases. He said the numbers reflect a significant increase in positive cases compared to summer and early fall similar to what is occurring across New York. “The spread of COVID-19 is largely occurring between friends and family members. People are taking the appropriate precautions when they are out in public such as wearing face masks, separation distancing. But then they’re getting together with friends and family members who don’t live in their home and they’re not taking those same precautions during those interactions. And some do spread COVID to others without ever showing sym