Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam issued an order in an attempt to expedite the vaccination process. It gives updated requirements for vaccine providers.
“I understand how frustrating the current vaccine process can seem and we have heard from many Pennsylvanians that are struggling to schedule an appointment,” said Beam. “As there is very limited COVID-19 vaccine supply compared to demand, every possible effort must be made so that the vaccine received in the commonwealth is effectively administered. To achieve this goal, I am issuing an order outlining appropriate steps and recognized best practices to ensure vaccine providers are effectively meeting the goal of vaccinating Pennsylvanians and creating a healthy Pennsylvania for all.”
Updated requirements for vaccine providers include:
– At a minimum, vaccine providers must administer 80 percent of their first doses of vaccine received within seven days of receipt of those doses
– Vaccine providers must follow all requirements and recommendations in the COVID-19 Interim Vaccination Plan
– Vaccine providers must adhere to the current phase of Pennsylvania’s vaccine rollout, as defined by the department
– Vaccine providers giving a two-dose vaccine shall provide the COVID-19 vaccine reminder card with a date for a return appointment for the second dose of vaccine
– Vaccine providers giving a two-dose vaccine must make every appropriate effort to ensure available appointments for second doses, including, but not limited to, designating appointment times for second doses or scheduling second doses at the time of first dose administration, or both
– Vaccine providers must have both an online and a phone-based registration system for direct appointment scheduling; information on these systems must be made available to the department so it can be posted online
– Vaccine providers must report the following: vaccinations and the information required by the Order Requiring Reporting of Data Related to Each Administration of an Immunization for COVID-19, dated Dec. 15, 2020, on each vaccine administered, including race and ethnicity of the recipient, whether or not the recipient is connected to the vaccine provider; and within 24 hours of receipt of inventory or administration of a vaccine, vaccine providers shall report receipt of shipments of COVID-19 immunization inventory, reduction in inventory levels as vaccines are administered, and reconciliation of inventory levels
Vaccine providers may have their allocation of first doses reduced, or temporarily suspended, for failure to comply with guidance from the federal government and state law, including failure to comply with the order. Allocations of first doses reduced or temporarily suspended may be restored once a vaccine provider provides assurance of future compliance of the order to the department.
If a vaccine provider doesn’t administer 80 percent of its first doses within seven days of receiving those doses, the provider will still be able to receive second doses, as second doses are secure. The department may grant a vaccine provider additional time to meet the 80 percent administration metric if the vaccine provider informs the department of inclement weather or infrastructure failures outside of the provider’s control, which impacted the vaccine administration.
The order requires that every provider have a phone number for direct appointment scheduling. Not every individual has access to the internet, and others may find it challenging to go online to find providers in their area or navigate online appointment portals.
Vaccine demographic reporting has thus far been incomplete. The order makes clear that providers must follow the racial and ethnic data reporting requirements.
The order was effective at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 12 and shall take effect as follows:
– The online and phone-based registration system requirements shall take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 19
– The allocation enforcement shall take effect 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 22
– The remainder of this order shall take effect immediately
This order rescinds and replaces the Order of the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Requiring Health Systems, Hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers and Pharmacies to Vaccinate Certain Health Care Personnel, dated Dec. 30, 2020.
The only exclusions to the order are vaccine providers whose provider agreement is with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and facilities owned or operated by the federal government, including facilities operated by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.
