Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam signed an amended order indicating that certain vaccine providers must work with local Area Agencies on Aging and Medical Assistance Managed Care Organizations to specifically schedule adults eligible in Phase 1A of the state’s vaccination plan.
The order also requires these providers to have the ability to schedule appointments for individuals into the future. Under this order, a vaccine provider that informs a Phase 1A individual that no appointments are available may be subject to enforcement. The order also requires providers to continue to ensure that appointments can be scheduled both by phone and using online scheduling systems.
“We continue to hear from seniors and those with certain medical conditions who are eligible to be vaccinated in Phase 1A that they are still struggling to sign up to get vaccinated,” said Beam. “Our trusted providers and the state’s 52 Area Agencies on Aging and Medical Assistance Managed Care Organizations are doing a tremendous job partnering with providers to fix that problem and ultimately get our Phase 1A eligible Pennsylvanians vaccinated in short order so that we can continue on the path of making vaccine available for all Pennsylvanians.”
To date, close to 1.6 million Pennsylvanians have been fully vaccinated and more than 3 million have at least one dose of vaccine. There are approximately 4 million eligible Pennsylvanians in Phase 1A. If about 80 percent of eligible individuals choose to be vaccinated, that means more than 3.2 million Pennsylvanians must have either received a vaccine or have been scheduled by the end of the month for an appointment in the future.
Beam stressed that there is still limited COVID-19 vaccine supply compared to demand. She said all possible efforts must be made so that the vaccine received in the commonwealth is most effectively administered.
“We know not everyone has access to the internet or the time or capability to navigate the website or repeatedly call to get an appointment,” Beam said. “The AAAs are a unique resource with the relationships and knowledge to assist seniors looking to be vaccinated. We believe that together the AAAs and vaccine providers can help these seniors get vaccinated, as shown by the many successful existing partnerships already under way and getting our most vulnerable connected with vaccine appointments.”
The Wolf Administration views this amendment as essential as it works to vaccinate those 65 and older and those with health conditions that makes them eligible to be vaccinated in Phase 1A as soon as possible.
