REGION — As the COVID-19 vaccination rollout continues around the country, one thing is becoming abundantly clear—there are more vaccines than there are people who want to get them.

When the vaccines were first offered those at highest risk of severe infection from the coronavirus were prioritized, and many had trouble finding open appointments.

But now, the vaccine has become more readily available and eligibility is open to anyone 18 years and older (with the Pfizer vaccine available to those 16 years and older).

Sullivan County Public Health Services has been holding walk-in vaccine clinics, and so far they have been held in Monticello, South Fallsburg and White Lake.

Public Health Director Nancy McGraw said 10,548 vaccines have been administered by Public Health over the course of 35 clinics since January 21. But increasingly there are more shots than arms.

“I believe that's the case statewide at this point, all the counties are experiencing this,” McGraw said. “So we're looking at creative ways to get people's questions and concerns answered, and encourage them to get vaccinated.”

According to data from the New York State Department of Health, as of Thursday 29,754 Sullivan County residents have received at least one vaccine dose and 23,308 people have completed the vaccine series.

Statewide, 47.2 percent of the population has at least one dose and 36.4 percent have completed the vaccine series.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that all New York State mass vaccination sites are now open to eligible New Yorkers for walk-in vaccination on a first come first serve basis.

“Our providers continue to work around the clock to get more shots into people's arms, and we are doubling down on making sure the vaccine is accessible to everyone across the state,” Governor Cuomo said in a press release on Tuesday.

The Pfizer vaccine is currently approved in the U.S. for people as young as 16 and it is expected to expand to those 12-15 years old by next week.

Sullivan County Public Health Services and Garnet Health, in collaboration with the Sullivan County COVID-19 Task Force, will begin holding COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine clinics for high school students age 16 and older (see side bar).

Clinics will be held at the Monticello Robert J. Kaiser Middle School, Livingston Manor School, Sullivan West High School and Liberty High School and will serve all school districts.

Pre-registration is required and any individual being vaccinated under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent. For more information, visit your school's website or call Sullivan BOCES at 845-295-4097.

The Sullivan County COVID-19 Task Force was created in March to help people find and make an appointment for a vaccine and to assist agencies that administer the vaccine.

Task Force Co-Chair Bill Liblick said so far they have registered over 1,000 people to get vaccinations at various places in the county.

Their next big task: education. In the coming weeks, the Task Force and Public Health will be rolling out an educational campaign to inform the public that vaccines are safe and effective.

“We're urging everyone now to please [get vaccinated],” Liblick said. “Now that we have the product and we worked so hard in getting so many people registered, we now have to move on to the education process.”

They are also working to reach vulnerable populations, such as those who are homebound by bringing the vaccine to them, and scheduling clinics on evenings and weekends so more people can come.

The Task Force is chaired by Liblick and Lori Orestano-James and is made up of a host of volunteers who do everything from answering phone calls to providing education.

“So many people in Sullivan County stepped up to the plate to say, ‘we want to help in this drive and effort,'” Liblick said. “And it's so rewarding to see so many people offering their services.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released guidance for what fully vaccinated people (you are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose) can do, such as gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask or staying six feet apart, gather outdoors without a mask and others.

If you've been fully vaccinated, the CDC says you should still take precautions such as wearing a mask in indoor group settings and avoid indoor large gatherings.

New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will lift most capacity restrictions beginning May 19 given vaccination progress and COVID-19 case decline. And President Joe Biden aims to vaccinate 70 percent of adults by July 4.

“The message is for everyone to try their best to get vaccinated, to not be hesitant and to do the right thing for yourself and to end this terrible pandemic,” Liblick said. “We have to come together.”