PITTSBURGH (100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA) — Big changes are coming to Pennsylvania's COVID vaccine rollout.
The Wolf administration says every adult in Pennsylvania will qualify for COVID-19 vaccines starting April 19.
Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam says starting Wednesday, vaccine appointments are being expanded to include police, corrections officers and other law enforcement, volunteer and professional firefighters, grocery employees, and food and farm workers.
On April 5, all residents in Phase 1B will be eligible.
Phase 1C follows April 12 and the general public on April 19.
"The vaccine landscape continues to evolve as the federal government is increasing allocations to more retail pharmacy chains across the country," Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam said.
"To ensure that vaccine continues to get to people efficiently and equitably, Pennsylvania is adapting its plan to allow workers in targeted industries to access any of the three vaccines available at providers throughout the state, and to accelerate our eligibility for remaining phases of the state's vaccination plan.
Phase 1C include essential workers in these sectors:
1. Transportation and logistics
2. Water and wastewater
3. Food service
4. Housing construction
5. Finance, including bank tellers
6. Information technology
7. Communications
8. Energy, including nuclear reactors
9. Legal services
10. Federal, state, county and local government workers, including county election workers, elected officials and members of the judiciary and their staff
11. MediaPublic safety
12. Public health workers
This order effectively speeds up the original phased-in approach.
Beam says that supplies of the vaccine have been ramped up allowing the commonwealth to open vaccine eligibility to all Pennsylvania residents 16 and older two weeks ahead of President Biden's vaccine directive.
Beam says about 83,000 people a day are receiving a vaccination.
Find more about how to schedule an appointment here.
