Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Pam Lyle receives a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during a Phase 1A clinic earlier this month from Justin Scholl of Gaughn’s Drug Store of Warren.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has repeatedly said that second doses of the COVID-19 vaccines would be available when the time comes.

There is a 21-day waiting period between the first and second doses. While the two doses are not chemically different, the distribution of the doses is.

The department has delivered on its promise regarding second doses. Finding first doses has been a problem.

Locally, many of those who have received both doses are health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities.

“Warren General currently has coverage for second doses through next week,” Chief Nursing Officer Joe Akif said. “In the current process of communicating with the state, WGH completes a weekly survey stating how many second doses that we need for the next week and potential first doses that we would like to continue with the remainder of the 1A category.”

The supply of second doses is flowing.

“The state has been good about shipping second doses,” Akif said. “By the end of this week, we will have completed a little over 1500 second doses.”

“The Rouse Home had their second vaccine clinic with CVS/Omnicare on Jan. 25 to provide the Pfizer/BioNtech COVID-19 Vaccine,” Rouse Marketing Director Kelsey Angove said. “As this vaccine requires two doses spaced out a minimum of 21 days apart to provide maximum immunity, all residents and staff who received their first dose on Jan. 4 received their second dose at this clinic.”

First doses are another matter.

“The first doses still remains a slow process,” Akif said. “It would seem that the deliveries have been getting smaller by the week for us. I expect to soon only see second doses until the inventory increases significant at the federal level.”

Vaccination is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended.

“We do track patients that do not complete their second dose or no-show for their second dose,” Akif said. “If someone misses, we reach out to them. We haven’t had many that have refused the second dose. Several forgot their second shot and have made arrangements to get their shot during an existing scheduled clinic.”

“We can only strongly recommend that you complete the process to provide maximum coverage,” he said. “If an individual does not want the second dose, that is their decision. We stress as a reminder to people, it is the second dose that creates a stronger immune response (to) the virus. The results after the first only provide limited coverage.”

Those who change their minds after declining an initial opportunity will face delays.

“While there was a shortage of doses at the Jan. 25 clinic, it was due to the increased number of residents and staff who decided to receive first doses of the vaccine,” Angove said. “Anyone needing a second dose was prioritized on this date.”

“At this time, just under 75 percent of the Rouse Home staff and 84 percent of the Rouse Home residents have received the vaccine,” she said. “We have been very pleased with both our resident and staff vaccine acceptance.”

“Our resident vaccine acceptance rate falls right in line with the national average of 78 percent reported by the CDC for the month of January,” Angove said.

The rate among the staff is almost double the national average of 40 percent, she said.

“The Suites at Rouse had their first Vaccine Clinic with CVS Omnicare on Jan. 20,” Angove said. “A second clinic is scheduled for Feb. 10.”

At Kinzua Healthcare and Rehabilitation, those who wanted the vaccine have received it. “Kinzua Healthcare & Rehabilitation partnered with CVS Pharmacy for administration of the COVID-19 vaccine,” according to a release from Guardian Healthcare. “There were sufficient doses of the vaccine available for administration to residents and caregivers who chose to receive it at each of the site’s clinics. The site will hold its third and final vaccination clinic for residents and caregivers on Thursday, Feb. 18.”