POTSDAM — The first of St. Lawrence County’s COVID-19 vaccination centers has been set up in the Fieldhouse at SUNY Potsdam’s Maxcy Hall. Clinical personnel are anticipating the distribution of the next round of vaccinations on Monday, January 18.

St. Lawrence Health System is collaborating with SUNY Potsdam, New York State, and St. Lawrence County Board of Health in the initiative to get county residents vaccinated against COVID-19. Along with the Potsdam location, SLHS is working to establish clinics in Gouverneur and Massena. The county is also working to help get two more set up in Ogdensburg and Star Lake.

New York State recently announced vaccination phase 1B is now open to the following eligible individuals: frontline essential workers such as fire fighters, police officers, corrections officers, public safety communications, sworn and civilian personnel, P-12 school faculty and staff, childcare providers, public transit personnel, individuals working or living in a homeless shelter, public-facing grocery store workers, and in-person college instructors; and individuals 65 years of age and older.

Individuals included from Phase 1A are also eligible to receive their vaccination at this time.

Complete details on Phase 1A and 1B eligibility may be found at https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/.

“While we recognize that many members of our community would like to receive the vaccine, we must and will adhere to all federal, state, and local protocols and guidelines to aid in an equitable and transparent distribution process,” SLHS Chief Administrative Officer Jeremy Slaga said in a news release.

Area residents are asked to adhere to the following guidelines to make an appointment:

Visit https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/ to check eligibility, find a location, and schedule an appointment; or call the New York State Vaccination Hotline (1-833-NYS-4VAX). Individuals are asked to refrain from calling individual hospitals about being vaccinated.

Patients should be wearing a short sleeve shirt for ease of vaccination administration.

Because of limited supply and complex logistics, medical professionals will determine the vaccine being administered. It is generally advised by the CDC that individuals take the vaccine available to them as long as it has been Emergency Use Authorization-issued, or approved by the FDA.

Patients will be asked to sit in a post-vaccine observation area for 15 to 30 minutes after receiving the injection, and should make an allotment in their schedule for this timeframe.

Patients are reminded they will need to return to the Vaccine Center for the second dose of their vaccination. Pfizer vaccines are spaced 21 days apart, and Moderna vaccines are 28 days apart.

Identification for the purpose of career-related eligibility, or age, is required.

Masks must be worn at all times while in the Vaccination Clinic.

Walk-ins cannot be accommodated at this time.

Due to the limited supply of vaccines currently available, appointments are also limited. If the NY State website link does not display any appointments for a nearby Vaccine Clinic location, individuals are encouraged to continue checking back as frequently as possible; appointments will be generated as vaccines becomes available.

St. Lawrence Healthy System has been working with Canton, Gouverneur, Massena, and Potsdam school districts to have vaccine clinics setup within district facilities; staff members are encourage to connect with their schools for specifics.

Individuals interested in being an SLHS volunteer at a Vaccine Clinic, are asked to call (315) 261-5400. To volunteer for the St. Lawrence County Board of Health, visit https://www.stlawco.org/news/volunteers-needed-assist-covid-19-vaccine-distribution-efforts.