Pam Lyle receives a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during a Phase 1A clinic Tuesday from Justin Scholl of Gaughn’s Drug Store of Warren, Pa. Photos by Brian Ferry

Some local residents are frustrated by early efforts to rollout a COVID-19 vaccine across New York state and in Chautauqua County.

Beginning on Jan. 11, individuals 65 and older became eligible to schedule appointments at vaccine sites through the use of online portals and hotlines operated by the New York State Department of Health.

Judith and Elliot Goldman of Mayville have waited throughout the course of the pandemic for an opportunity to receive the vaccine, but have been dissatisfied with several parts of the rollout thus far.

“My stepdaughter spent 7.5 hours trying to get us an appointment on the computer,” said Judith Goldman, 73.

Goldman and her husband, 76, both have preexisting conditions that can exacerbate COVID-19, and have been eager to schedule vaccine appointments.

A portable refrigerator/freezer keeps vials of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine cold - 6 degrees Celsius — at a Tuesday clinic. Each vial contains 10 or 11 doses.

“She ended up finding us appointments in Binghamton, but not on the same day. One on Saturday and one on Monday, which is absolutely ridiculous as senior citizens that we would have to drive this far,” Goldman said. “We’d have to go down for the appointment, we’d have to stay in a hotel which we have been avoiding.”

“You have to get food someplace so you are going into another area. We have to have somebody take care of our dogs, another additional expense.”

Unable to find any available vaccine appointments locally, the Goldmans had attempted to find openings at New York state-operated sites at SUNY Binghamton or SUNY Buffalo, even looking as far as Utica.

Of course, scheduling such an appointment would now mean driving long distances in winter weather, booking a hotel, spending more time out in public, and making a second trip for a follow-up vaccination.

“Yesterday I was so upset because of the weather and wanting to drive,” Goldman said. “I said how can we place ourselves in a situation where we have to drive to Binghamton from Mayville, and it is not feasible for us to do it.”

The Goldmans opted to cancel their appointments in Bingamton.

Some of the Goldman’s primary concerns are the efforts of local government officials to aid the distribution of vaccines in the county, and the lack of a state-run site closer to home.

“I feel like Gov. Cuomo, his mother, he would not want her to be driving for an hour and half up to Buffalo to get her shot in a snow storm,” Goldman said.

Attempting to find a local solution, Goldman said that her efforts to contact local pharmacies had not resulted in any appointments.

“I can’t understand why our local politicians are not doing something,” she said. “We were concerned, the family would like us to be able to get it. (My husband’s) family members who live in Westchester County, they have all been vaccinated.”

The New York state website indicated on Tuesday that appointments were only available at state-run sites in Syracuse, Potsdam and Plattsburgh.

The Chautauqua Center, which has operated a local vaccination clinic, indicated on its website that does not have any appointments available as of Tuesday.

“We have exhausted our supply of the COVID-19 vaccine at this time and have reached capacity on our waitlist,” according to the statement. “Please do not call our office for vaccine scheduling as the volume of calls is interfering with our ability to assist other patients.”

WARREN COUNTY ADDS CLINIC

On Tuesday, Warren County, Pa., residents had their first opportunity to visit a vaccine clinic that was not specific to Phase 1A workers.

Gaughn’s Drug Store began offering vaccinations at the First Church of God in Warren after receiving 200 doses late last week and another small shipment Monday.

“It’s exciting to get started,” owner and pharmacist Scott Newton said.

While Newton is not receiving as many doses as he is requesting — he requested 500 for this week — he expects to receive some on an ongoing basis. “We do expect to get at least a weekly shipment from here on out,” he said. “We’ll start getting through our list.”