Cayuga Health opens 40,000-square-foot mass vaccination clinic in Ithaca

ITHACA, N.Y. — Cayuga Health (CH) on Thursday said it’s opened a 40,000-square-foot mass vaccination clinic in the former Sears department store at The Shops at Ithaca Mall at 40 Catherwood Road in Ithaca.

CH officials worked with the Tompkins County Health Department to open the clinic, per a Thursday news release.

Cayuga Health and county employees staff the facility. Those who want to register for the vaccine, should visit: cayugahealth.org/vaccine or the Tompkins County Health Department website at: https://tompkinscountyny.gov/health/covid19vaccine.

CH opened the clinic for phase 1 vaccination dispensing and to prepare for the progression of the vaccination distribution. So far, Cayuga Health has administered 5,132 vaccines, at a pace of about 650 to 800 doses per day, as part of vaccine phase 1A and now 1B.

With enough vaccine doses, the site is capable of giving out 2,000 doses daily, CH said.

“Our mission is to dispense 100% of the allocated vaccine as it is received, and we have done this continuously since accepting our first shipment,” Dr. Martin Stallone, president and CEO of Cayuga Health. “It is our understanding that the more efficient that we are, the greater the allocation can become in the future. As additional groups are eligible for vaccination, we will reach them quickly.”

During a teleconference last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the highest and lowest performing hospitals in the state as it pertains to vaccine distribution. Of those listed, Cuomo recognized Cayuga Medical Center as one of the top 10 highest performers in the state.