CAMBRIDGE — Where there’s a will, there’s a way to fight COVID-19 — now the county just needs more vaccine.
During an online presentation and community forum on WHCP radio, Dorchester County Health Department Director Roger Harrell and Deputy Director Dr. Casey Scott told of the local vaccination effort and its challenges.

The conversation took place Jan. 26, led by Station Manager Mike Starling, who shared questions asked in real time by participants who viewed the show on Facebook live.
The pandemic has hit the nation, state and county hard. Dorchester, as of Jan. 28, had 2,194 confirmed cases, with 112 active. There were four patients hospitalized, and 36 deaths from the virus during the pandemic.
Vaccines became available in recent weeks, but on the Eastern Shore and around the country, supply has not come anywhere near demand.

“We have the vaccine now, but we don’t have an adequate supply,” Mr. Harrell said.
In the past months, the Health Department’s emphasis has been on testing for the virus. But that is changing.
“In February, we’ll only be testing one day a week,” Mr. Harrell said. “As our supply of vaccine increases, our focus will be getting shots in arms.”
The first shipment of vaccine to Dorchester County arrived on Dec. 23, with the first clinic held Dec. 29, when 32 persons were vaccinated.

The work has increased since then, until the most recent clinic on Jan. 21, when 245 individuals received their shots.
That’s when low supply slowed things down.
“Since then, unfortunately, we have had to cut back a bit,” Dr. Scott said, adding that the local department’s efforts were more vigorous than the available vaccine could support.
“While we are ready and able,” she said, “we are quite limited in how many per week we can even vaccinate.”
That lack is reflected in who can get the shots. The department’s focus is still on groups 1A and 1B — first responders and the elderly — even though the state has announced that group 1C, with additional categories, is authorized.
“We are not able to offer vaccines to that group, simply because of supply,” Dr. Scott said.
The bottleneck is occurring at a time when cases are increasing rapidly.

In August of 2020, there were 463 positive cases in Dorchester, while by late January, the number exceeded 2,000.
In December, “The numbers jumped off the map,” Mr. Harrell said. “We had 342 cases that month alone.”
And that’s not all.
“In January, I hate to tell you, we’re probably going to double that,” he said. “As of today [Jan. 26] we had 558 cases, and cases are still coming in.”
By that same day, Dorchester County had vaccinated 8.4 percent of its population with the first dose of the two-dose process, and 1 percent with the second dose. These figures include vaccinations that may have taken place in other areas.
As for the Dorchester County Health Department’s own numbers, “We’ve done over 1,700 first doses, and 29 second doses,” Dr. Scott said. “We’ve been able to distribute over 90 percent of our first doses that we received. So, it’s an issue of how much we receive.”

As the county organization continues its work in periodic clinics held in a ballroom donated by the Hyatt Resort, other processes are in play. The federal government has formed partnerships with the pharmacies CVS and Walgreens, to serve nursing homes. Walmart stores have also been tapped to perform vaccinations.
Primary care doctors would like to offer the shots, but there is not sufficient supply yet.
“They want vaccines in their offices,” Dr. Scott said. “I’m not sure of the timeline for that.”

Mr. Harrell said, “Physicians at some point will be asked to register” as suppliers of the vaccine.
Viewer Stephanie Alexander asked, “When will be getting more vaccines?”
Mr. Harrell said, “That’s the $64,000 question. The governor has been pressing, he’s been talking to the president’s team.”
It’s not so much the process of giving the shots, but rather when the vaccine supply chain will be able to bring the medicine to citizens.
“When that will happen, we’re not sure. A lot depends on the new administration,” Mr. Harrell said. “I wish I had a date to give you folks, but I don’t. Just bear with us.”
Adding to the challenge for the local department is the skimpy information available.

“We might not know until Friday or even Saturday, how many vaccines we’ll get for that next week,” Dr. Scott said. “It really makes planning a challenge.”
“We’re ready to rock and roll,” Dr. Scott said. “We can easily do 500 a day.”
Adults age 75 and older interested in getting vaccinated should complete the Dorchester County Health Department’s online interest form at forms.gle/pWonbNBprfAteWMfA
Citizens will then receive an email with instructions to register for a vaccination clinic. The response time may vary and is dependent on vaccine supply.
Staff can help individuals aged 75 or older to complete the forms.