HARRISBURG (100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA)) – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced that Pennsylvania will receive a total of 111,150 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, with 97,500 doses going to 66 counties throughout the state, and 13,650 doses going to Philadelphia County.
In the local area, Monongahela Valley Hospital and UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh received the vaccine on Monday to be given to health care workers.
"This is a pivotal development in the fight against COVID-19, in Pennsylvania and the nation," Dr. Levine said. "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."
An Initial 97,500 doses will be given to 87 hospitals this week across the state, and 88 additional hospitals receiving shipments on Monday, December 21st.
"These first doses of vaccine are being given specifically to health care workers through hospitals," Dr. Levine said. "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."
Vaccine distribution will be given in phases due to limited demand. The first phase will give the vaccine to health care workers, EMS first responders, and residents and staff in congregate care settings.
The second phase will be given to those in the first phase who did not receive the vaccine yet.
The third phase will begin when there is more supply of the vaccine, and the general public will have access to it.
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