High rate of COVID vaccinations in Mercer County

Mercer County, Pa. -
Nearly half of new coronavirus infections nationwide are in just five states and two of them border Ohio.
According to the Associated press, New York, Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey together reported 44 percent of the nation's new COVID-19 infections, or nearly 197,500 new cases.
Mercer is ahead of most counties in the state able to get more shots into arms providing thousands of vaccines.
Allegheny Health Network Grove City Hospital says taking the vaccine to people in the communities is key.
They drive through vaccine clinic at a fire station in Pine township has played a critical role in getting vaccines to people in rural areas, who don't have internet access, or populations that are underserved. This clinic is able to administer 600 vaccines a day.
David Tupponce President of Allegheny Health Network, "We've been able to just out of the Grove City location do over 10,000 first dose vaccines and we are over 8,000 second vaccines."
"It's important to talk with people that live in the communities and find some solutions that work in smaller towns whether the fire hall or church or local business community centers," said Tupponce.
Walberg Family Pharmacy with a team of 15 employees administering vaccines, and 15 people working computers is able to vaccinate a few thousand people in an eight hour shift throughout Mercer, Lawrence, Crawford and Clarion counties. Holding the clinics at churches, high schools, and college auditoriums.
Bretton Walberg, owner of Walberg Family Pharmacies said, "Our whole group of employees, we have only 120 people and we have been able to administer close to 43,000 doses since we started on January 23rd. I believe our success has a lot to do with local pharmacies. Our customers are more than a number. Often times we cared for two and three or four generations of people."
"We received a thousand doses on Friday and we were administering a thousand doses that very next day Saturday and to our surprise on that same Friday we received 2,000 doses and we turned around and had another clinic that next Monday," added Walberg.
He thanks state senators and representatives for vaccine access, police and fire volunteers, and everyone who has played a role in making Mercer ahead of the curve.
People are encouraged to watch their website for upcoming clinics.