Same-day COVID-19 vaccination appointment scheduling will be held at 1 p.m. daily at the Lancaster County Community Vaccination Center starting Wednesday, officials said.
Appointments are limited based upon no-shows and can be scheduled at the vaccination center’s interior mall entrance at Park City Center in Lancaster. Vaccine availability will be based on the number of cancelations.
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“Our goal is to make sure we get every vaccine dose we receive into the arm of one of our community members,” Dr. Michael Ripchinski, site director for the Lancaster County Community Vaccination Center and chief clinical officer with Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, lead healthcare partner for the Vaccinate Lancaster Coalition, said via press release. “Same-day appointments will give our team a more efficient way to ensure every dose is used each day.”
About 98 percent of scheduled vaccine doses are administered, which forces staff to find individuals to vaccinate at the end of each day “to ensure those unused doses do not go to waste,” officials said.
“We’re all in this together, and getting a vaccine is something each of us can do to help end this pandemic,” Ripchinski said. “It’s safe, effective, scientifically proven and free. Get your shot of hope today.”
With an average of 60 to 70 vaccine doses potentially available for same-day appointments each day, Ripchinski noted that spots are likely to fill up quickly. He urged community members to schedule their appointment online or by phone. The center is also now offering one-stop registration and scheduling with no waiting to schedule an appointment.
The Lancaster County Community Vaccination Center currently has approximately 20,000 appointments available through May 2. With the state’s expanded eligibility, effective today, anyone age 16 and older can now get the COVID-19 vaccine.
To register and schedule for a vaccine at the Lancaster County Community Vaccination Center, visit VaccinateLancaster.org or call 717-588-1020.