Nearly 30% of Chautauqua County residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. A large vaccination clinic taking place today at the Jamestown Community College physical education complex will help push the county to the one-third mark during the pandemic.

According to the state’s vaccination tracker, 38,294 residents have received their first dose, representing 29.9% of the total population, while 20,170 have completed their vaccination series.

Hundreds of appointments were still available by mid-day Tuesday for today’s clinic at JCC, which will utilize the Moderna vaccine. Because the vaccine requires two doses, those who get their shot this week must be available for the second dose April 28.

The pool of potential recipients was greatly expanded this week after Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that anyone over the age of 30 was eligible for a vaccine.

Eligibility had previously been restricted to people over 50, people in certain job categories and those with health conditions that put them at risk for serious illness if they were to become infected with the coronavirus.

In the past seven days 1.3 million doses have been administered across New York state, Cuomo said in his daily update.

“We know the key to defeating COVID once and for all is getting every single New Yorker vaccinated, and as our supply increases week to week we are opening up eligibility even further to all New Yorkers over the age of 30, with universal eligibility set to begin on April 6,” Cuomo said.

As is the case locally, the state is reaching a significant benchmark for doses given out to residents.

“Nearly one out of every three New Yorkers has already received at least one dose of the vaccine, and we are getting more shots in arms every single day while continuing to focus on fair and equitable distribution,” the governor said. “The light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer, but for now we have to remain New York tough and continue with the practices we know will stop the spread.”

In related news, the Chautauqua County Department of Health reported 38 new confirmed COVID cases, which brings the total to 8,220 to date. There remains two people with the virus in the hospital, 161 active cases and 395 in quarantine. There have been 7,917 recoveries and 142 virus-related deaths.