A spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Health said Wednesday the federal government dealt directly with Walmart regarding the vaccination clinic at Hanover Area High School that was booked before
Answers wanted as many travel to Luzerne County for COVID-19 vaccines
State and school leaders want to know why locals were not made a priority for Walmart vaccine clinic held at Hanover Area High School. Author: Chelsea Strub Updated: 5:44 PM EST March 9, 2021
LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. State Senator John Yudichak and Hanover Area Superintendent Nathan Barrett want the Department of Health and Walmart to hold another COVID-19 vaccine clinic one that is open to the general public in Luzerne County.
This comes after concerns that people didn t learn about the clinic currently taking place at Hanover Area High School until all the appointments were already booked.
Hanover Area super: Walmart wants to host vaccine clinic for county residents citizensvoice.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from citizensvoice.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Appointments for COVID-19 vaccination clinics at Hanover Area High School this week were booked by last Friday, even before they were publicized, frustrated readers said Monday.
Megan Griffith, of Dallas, said her mother, Sandy Bonawits, called a toll-free number 18 times Monday morning to schedule a vaccination appointment before she got through, and she waited on hold for 51 minutes before she spoke to a scheduling representative for Walmart, the sponsor of the clinics.
Bonawits, 63, of Plymouth, qualifies for a vaccination during Pennsylvaniaâs Phase 1A rollout because she has a heart condition, Griffith said.
âThe representative she spoke to was kind of surprised that the information about the clinics opening Tuesday was just in the paper this morning. She told her the appointments at Hanover Area had been booked since Friday,â Griffith said. âThere was an available appointment in Centre County, but that would be too far for her to drive.â
A toll-free phone number at which the public may make appointments for a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Hanover Area Junior-Senior High School this week will go live Monday morning.
The phone number, 1-800-753-8827, will not work prior to Monday morning, according to an email sent Sunday from the office of state Sen. John Yudichak, I-14, Swoyersville.
Wal-Mart will host the vaccine clinic at the high school on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Hanover Area Superintendent Nathan Barrett said over the weekend.
Those who wish to register for the clinic are asked to call the toll-free number listed above and not to contact the high school.