UPDATE: Kinney Drugs has announced that, in accordance with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s eligibility expansion today, it will provide COVID-19 vaccinations for people 65 years of age and older.
ORIGINAL STORY:
TOMPKINS COUNTY, N.Y.—Kinney Drugs has announced that it will begin administering a COVID-19 vaccine this week for people over 75 years of age, one of the priority populations for Phase 1B of the vaccination distribution in New York State.
Appointments are required to receive the vaccination, and the program will begin on Thursday, Jan. 14. Word has clearly gotten out, as an announcement on Kinney’s website states that every available appointment has been taken—sure enough, all four Tompkins County locations no longer have available slots listed.
“Response has been tremendous and currently, all appointments are booked,” according to Kinney’s website. “However, additional appointments will open up as more vaccine becomes available. We ask that you please do not call your local store, as they are focused on serving patients and will have no additional information. Instead, please check this site often.”
Those interested should monitor Kinney’s webpage for further availability. All necessary information will be available there, including scheduling information, requisite forms, senior transportation resources, appointment expectations, etc.
Kinney is using the Moderna vaccine, meaning a second shot will be needed one month after the first in order to be fully, properly immunized against the coronavirus.
“Since the onset of the pandemic, it has been Kinney’s top priority to be there for our communities to provide the medications, supplies and care they need,” said Rebecca Bubel, the president of Kinney Drugs. “For several weeks, we have been providing drive-through COVID testing in many of our pharmacies, and we are proud that our Kinney pharmacists are now part of the vaccination solution. As we have since 1903, our employee-owners remain 100 percent committed to supporting our communities on the front lines and will help bring this pandemic under control.”