County executives in New York were told Friday to submit requests for the amount of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine they could store at sub-zero temperatures and dispense within seven days to senior citizens without comorbidities. Putnam County requested 3,000 vaccine doses, but will receive a little less than half of that figure. 

A county’s allotment will depend upon its population. Putnam County does not yet know when doses might be delivered so have not scheduled a distribution clinic.  Putnam County has freezers that can store up to 6,000 doses of the vaccine at sub-zero temperatures and Executive MaryEllen Odell said she will offer space in its freezers to any neighboring counties that doesn’t have adequate cold storage capacity. 

The County has the capability to set up a POD to administer the vaccine within 48 hours of receiving it.  In addition to the professionals from the county health department, there's a vast pool of experienced volunteers who are ready to help vaccinate older residents.