PA is allocating COVID-19 vaccines as they become available to ensure equitable distribution. Initially vaccination was limited to healthcare workers and long-term care residents.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health expanded its 1A Phase for vaccine distribution on Jan. 19 to include persons over the age of 65 and younger persons with high-risk conditions – in addition to the healthcare workers included in the initial guidelines. See new 1A Phase list below.
Please note: The expanded 1A Phase includes many more individuals than the amount of available vaccine and the resources necessary to administer the vaccine.
The current vaccines available require two doses, either 21 days (Pfizer-BioNTech) or 28 days (Moderna) apart.
Who Gets the Vaccine, and When:
The CDC issued recommendations for the administration of the limited supply of vaccine, and the PA Department of Health issued guidelines for distribution in the commonwealth that will take place over the coming months.Phase 1A as of Jan. 19 (WE'RE HERE)
- Long-term care facility residents
- Health care personnel including, but not limited to:
- Emergency medical service personnel
- Nurses
- Nursing assistants
- Physicians
- Dentists
- Dental hygienists
- Chiropractors
- Therapists
- Phlebotomists
- Pharmacists
- Technicians
- Pharmacy technicians
- Health professions students and trainees
- Direct support professionals
- Clinical personnel in school settings or correctional facilities
- Contractual HCP not directly employed by the health care facility
- Persons not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to infectious material that can transmit disease among or from health care personnel and patients
- Persons ages 65 and older
- Persons ages 16-64 with high-risk conditions:
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD
- Down Syndrome
- Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant or from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines
- Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
- Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell disease
- Smoking
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Here is an abbreviated overview of the guidance:
Phase 1B
- People in congregate settings not otherwise specified as long-term care facilities, and persons receiving home and community-based services
- First responders
- Correctional officers and other workers serving people in congregate care settings not included in Phase 1A
- Food and agricultural workers
- U.S. Postal Service workers
- Manufacturing workers
- Grocery store workers
- Education workers
- Clergy and other essential support for houses of worship
- Public transit workers
- Individuals caring for children or adults in early childhood and adult day programs
- Essential workers in these sectors:
- Transportation and logistics
- Water and wastewater
- Food service
- Housing construction
- Finance, including bank tellers
- Information technology
- Communications
- Energy, including nuclear reactors
- Legal services
- Federal, state, county and local government workers, including county election workers, elected officials and members of the judiciary and their staff
- Media
- Public safety
- Public health workers
All individuals not previously covered who are 16 and older and do not have a contraindication to the vaccine. Note: At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech product is approved for those age 16 and 17.
All persons of any age not previously vaccinated.
COVID-19 Vaccination Pre-Registration: https://buckscovid.powerappsportals.us/Vaccine-Registration/
Bucks County Health Department is currently registering essential workers of Bucks County who meet the following criteria for COVID-19 vaccination scheduling (Phase 1A, 1B, 1C) CLICK HERE TO REGISTER: https://buckscovid.powerappsportals.us/Vaccine-Registration/
For more information on the COVID-19 Vaccine in PA please visit the Bucks County Coronavirus Portal here: https://covid19-bucksgis.hub.arcgis.com/
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