As COVID-19 deaths and cases continue to rapidly climb in Chautauqua County, the Health Department has announced it is working on alternatives to better assist area residents who are eligible receive a vaccination.

In a news release this weekend, the department said the state’s online Am I Eligible? tool at (https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/) was the only way to connect to a vaccination clinic run by the state. At the time, the closest state clinic is at the south campus of the University at Buffalo.

“This change came as a surprise to us,” said Christine Schuyler, Chautauqua County Public Health Director, said Friday. “People were already very frustrated because there is not enough vaccine for those eligible to receive it, and now the state has removed the only central repository of vaccine providers.”

The county and Health Department noted the Western New York Vaccination Network Hub is developing a regional vaccine locator tool and hotline. All clinics conducted by the Health Department will be on the public health website (https://chqgov.com/public-health/covid-19-vaccine-information) with links to schedule appointments. It will be clearly marked if the clinic is full and residents will not be able to schedule an appointment. It is best to keep checking back frequently for additional clinics with available appointment times.

On Sunday, New York state announced an additional five COVID-19 deaths in the Chautauqua County, which does not update case numbers on the weekend. New York state also noted total county cases at 5,460 — slightly higher than the county’s Thursday total of 5,424. Cattaraugus County noted 86 new cases Friday and Saturday with 505 active. There have been 3,296 total cases, 2,725 recoveries with 52 currently hospitalized.

Appointments for the vaccination cannot be made by phone at this time, Chautauqua County officials noted. If other vaccine providers share information on their clinics with the Health Department, it will also be posted on the public health website.

However, Chautauqua County NY Connects wants to make sure those over the age of 65 have access to COVID-19 vaccine information. Those over the age of 65 can call the NY Connects Helpline at 753-4582, 661-7582 or 363-4582. A representative will talk to callers about vaccination options in the County and collect personal information to make sure you stay updated.

In the meantime, pharmacies in the state are permitted to vaccinate only persons 65 years of age and older. Rite Aid and Tops pharmacies in Chautauqua County have received small allocations of vaccine from New York and had planned to utilize the state’s Am I Eligible website and hotline to schedule appointments for vaccine administration. Rite Aid is now working on other options to schedule appointments; more information is forthcoming. Please check https://www.topsmarkets.com/covid19 for availability of appointments and scheduling at Tops pharmacies. Wegmans Pharmacy in Jamestown has not received vaccine yet. Please check www.wegmans.com/pharmacy for availability and to schedule once they receive vaccine, which may not be for a few weeks.

Officials also urged residents be patient and considerate of vaccine providers who are doing their best to get shots in arms. “The amount of vaccine we have is a drop in the bucket compared to what is needed,” Schuyler said. “As quickly as we get vaccine, we administer it and I’m hoping that the state will increase its allocations to us.”

During state Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Friday press conference, the Health Department and Brooks Hospital where hailed for administering 100% of their vaccine allocations while UPMC Chautauqua administered 98% of their allocations.

New York is currently in Phase 1a and 1b of its distribution plan. Please visit (https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/phased-distribution-vaccine) to see who is eligible for vaccination at this time.