Since the first Montgomery County administration of the COVID-19 vaccine, citizens have been eagerly awaiting their turn to receive one of the doses the county has received from the U.S. federal government. Like much of the country, the community is optimistic about the positive impacts vaccines will have on Pottstown. Recently, many Hill School community-building programs have had to relocate online or cancel altogether. The vaccine would open up programs such as Hobart’s Run once again.

The formal start to COVID-19 vaccinations in Montgomery County began at Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) on Jan. 6. Located 23 miles east of The Hill School, the clinic that administered the county’s first vaccine is one of several that are currently distributing the doses that the county has received from the US federal government. The county first received 10,000 doses. According to Montgomery County Media, as of Jan. 14, the county has received 19,700 doses and has administered about 18,200 doses. 

The state of Pennsylvania will first be administering the vaccine to residents and staff in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes. This will be carried out through enrolled hospital systems as well as with a federal government pharmacy partnership involving CVS and Walgreens, speeding up the distribution of the vaccine. In the United States, 39% of COVID-19 deaths have occurred in long-term facilities. The first staff to receive vaccinations have been critical care staff and general older staff. Essential workers will be next. The United States has about 87 million essential workers, predominantly in food, manufacturing, police, EMS, transportation, and education.

According to Cathy Skitko, director of Communications of The Hill School, the vaccine will not only help with the physical health of Pottstown it will also help with getting communities running again. 

“While the health of our residents is of utmost importance, ensuring our community is healthy and safe also will allow things to get back to normal in terms of small businesses fully re-opening, community events occurring, and face-to-face outreach progressing… we are very eager to again participate in face-to-face events with our neighbors and Pottstown partners,” she said. 

Skitko also believes that part of the Montgomery County vaccine rollout relies on the citizens of the county. 

“Part of the challenge now is educating and encouraging our neighbors to trust and obtain the vaccine.  Recently, the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, in partnership with the Pottstown branch of the NAACP, held a virtual town hall about the importance of getting vaccinated,” said Skitko. 

In Montgomery County, education workers are to be vaccinated in phase 1C of a plan containing the phases 1A, 1B, 1C, 2, and 3. Teachers are in 1B. Currently, only priority groups 1A and 1B are receiving vaccines. The closest vaccine distribution locations to The Hill School are Pottstown Community Health and Dental Care, at 351 W. Schuylkill Road, and Pottstown Hospital, at 1600 E. High Street. Every vaccine recipient, regardless of which vaccine, requires a second shot, three to four weeks after the first shot.

Currently, Montgomery County is at a choke point in vaccine distribution due to nationwide shortages and uncertainty regarding the availability of the vaccine, however, officials ensure continued distribution, working to immunize the most vulnerable.