From March 2020 to February 2022, the Cortland County Health Department led COVID-19 response through education on COVID-19 prevention measures, sharing of local level data, management of isolation and quarantine activities, mass vaccination clinics, and targeted pop-up vaccination clinics in high needs communities in Cortland County. In February 2022, the NYSDOH took over coordination of isolation and quarantine and Cortland County Health Department shifted into a new phase of COVID-19 response.

In March 2022, Cortland County Health Department shifted focus from management of isolation and vaccination clinics to community education. Education efforts involve correcting misinformation, encouraging healthcare provider consultation, framing vaccination as a social norm, and collaborating with partners to fill gaps in vaccine response. In June 2022, COVID-19 vaccination was selected as a focus area for the 2022-2024 Cortland County Community Health Improvement Plan.