FREDONIA, N.Y. — Through a partnership with the Chautauqua County Department of Health, SUNY Fredonia announced Wednesday that it will serve as a mass vaccination site.
Eligible residents will be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine in the Ice Arena complex in Steele Hall when the vaccine becomes available.
"Really what it means is our residents are going to have you know more opportunity to get the vaccine," according to Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel.
The SUNY Fredonia site will be the Chautauqua County Health Department's third location. Scheduling appointments will occur through the county website, just like at Jamestown Community College and at the health department in Mayville.
Wendel told 2 On Your Side on Wednesday that appointment slots should open up within the next 24 hours, but residents may have to be patient when trying online.
"You know we ask everybody to pay close attention to the website, and those availabilities for appointments will be coming out shortly. ... Just keep checking the website," Wendel said.
Wendel added that because of the federal government's pending allocation, it's unclear how many appointments will be available once the SUNY Fredonia site opens but he expects a few hundred.
“As vaccine supply increases, sites like the SUNY Fredonia campus with large, open venues and ample parking will be necessary to accommodate the number of people we anticipate needing to vaccinate,” Chautauqua County Public Health Director Christine Schuyler said in a statement Wednesday.
SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras released the following statement on Wednesday:
“Over the past couple of months, our SUNY campuses and hospitals have proudly served as vaccination centers for state and county officials—providing space and resources to vaccinate more than 300,000 individuals thus far and counting. And with news of vaccine production ramping up for states, more SUNY campuses are raising their hands to join the effort. SUNY Fredonia is the most recent, entering into an agreement with the Chautauqua County Department of Health to serve the region. Fighting this pandemic has shown the value of partnership and pooling of resources, and SUNY will continue to offer our support at every turn.”
SUNY Fredonia is reminding its faculty, staff and students that they should expect to be vaccinated in according to the prioritization that has been established by New York State.
For more information about vaccination clinics in Chautauqua County, click here.