Pennsylvania is slated to receive 97,500 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for 66 counties, with Philadelphia County receiving its own allotment of 13,650 doses, for a total of 111,150 doses for healthcare workers identified in the state’s distribution plan. St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne is slated to receive the vaccine directly from Pfizer this week.
“This is a pivotal development in the fight against COVID-19, in Pennsylvania and the nation,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine. “This limited supply of vaccine signals the start of the process to end COVID-19’s devastating impacts on every community in the commonwealth. However, it is important to remember that we are still months away from being able to vaccinate all Pennsylvanians, making mitigation efforts more important than ever to save lives.”
As additional allocations become available, more hospital sites will receive the vaccine over the next several weeks. Hospital sites are selected by their ability to manage the cold chain requirement with the vaccine, completion of the COVID-19 provider agreement, and successful onboarding with the Department of Health for necessary documentation for vaccination. The number of doses, recipient hospitals, and arrival dates are subject to change based on updated information from the federal government and Pfizer.
“These first doses of vaccine are being given specifically to healthcare workers through hospitals,” said Levine. “Hospitals are making arrangements to implement these vaccinations, not only to their own frontline staff but to other high-priority recipients. The number of people we can immunize truly depends on how quickly the manufacturers can make the vaccine.”
Levine issued an order that requires vaccine providers to report information to the department on individuals who are vaccinated. COVID-19 immunization providers are required to report patient information, including gender, race and ethnicity to the department within 24 hours of administering the vaccine.
Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine received Emergency Use Authorization from the Food and Drug Administration on Friday, Dec. 11, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved its use on Dec. 13.
The vaccine will be available in phases beginning with critical populations due to the limited supply. The first phase is divided into two parts, with the first doses of vaccine administered to healthcare workers, EMS first responders and residents and staff in congregate care settings.
In the second phase, the department anticipates more vaccine doses will be available. This will allow the vaccination of those in the first phase who were not able to receive it. The third phase begins once the department has a sufficient supply of the vaccine. In this phase, the entire population will have access.
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