Onondaga County update: High schools hold Covid vaccine clinics, libraries expand hours

The scene at the Covid-19 vaccine clinic at The OnCenter on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021.

The scene at the Covid-19 vaccine clinic at The OnCenter on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Katrina Tulloch)Katrina Tulloch

Syracuse, N.Y. – Two more large high schools will hold Covid-19 vaccine clinics next week in Onondaga County. East Syracuse Minoa Central High School will provide vaccines Tuesday, and Liverpool High School will give shots April 23.

County officials launched their effort to vaccinate high school students today with a lead-off clinic at Baker High School in Baldwinsville. At least 150 students and staff received shots today, County Executive Ryan McMahon said.

The high school clinics are part of a growing county effort to go into the community with vaccines. Students receive Pfizer shots, the only vaccine approved for 16- and 17-year-olds.

Future vaccine clinics will be held at other high schools. In the weeks to come, the county also will hold more events at community centers, churches and other neighborhood sites to vaccinate people who have not yet had shots.

More than 208,000 county residents have received at least one dose of vaccine, or about 58% of all adults. County officials hope to vaccinate at least 70% of the population by May, McMahon said.

Libraries: Beginning April 22, the downtown Central Library and all city branch libraries will open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Patrons can visit without making an appointment. The branches had previously been open by appointment only, in many cases just two or three days a week.

The county today confirmed 115 new cases of Covid-19 since Wednesday. There were 46 Covid-19 patients in local hospitals today. Nine patients were in intensive care.

No county resident has died from the virus since April 8.

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