MARION — A March 5 covid vaccine clinic was postponed until March 10, after Marion received an email from the state saying its planned shipment of second doses was delayed. 

The March 5 clinic was set up to give second doses to 100 Marion residents who’ve already received their first dose with the town. 

The town was not told that the doses would not be coming, just that the shipment has been delayed due to an overcommitment of doses. 

“But obviously we have our concerns,” Town Administrator Jay McGrail said. 

Board of Health Vice Chair Dot Brown said she received a separate email from the Department of Public Health, saying Marion is on the list to receive second doses next week. 

“That’s the part that’s really hard,” Brown said, “is when they say ‘yes’ and then they say ‘no.’”

Following the delay, the town received confirmation that the second doses would be coming, and the rescheduled clinic is set for March 10.

When the town was initially notified that the doses would be delayed, each of the 100 residents who were called individually to book their appointments had to be called again to be informed of the clinic’s cancellation.

Then, the clinic had to be rescheduled when Marion got notice that the doses would be coming for the March 10 clinic.

Additionally, the town only has 10 days from the date it receives doses to use them, meaning Marion has to work quickly to get clinics up and running.

And most of the time, the town doesn’t know how many doses of the vaccine it will be alotted until days before the clinics.

“Every week, we cross our fingers to see how many [doses] we’re gonna get,” she said. 

Brown added that it was problematic for Marion to regularly receive last-minute information from the state about the number of alotted doses and new guidlines for clinics.