Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald is defending the County Health Department's updated COVID vaccine policy.
Starting Friday, the county will allow people aged 50 to 64 in Phase 1a to receive a vaccine, as long as they have certain medical conditions. Previously, only people aged 65 and older were able to receive shots from the county's five vaccination sites.
A local pharmacist called in on the Marty Griffin show on News Radio KDKA to ask why the county is opening up to younger people when there are those 65 and over who are still waiting for a shot. A seemingly frustrated Fitzgerald responded that you can't have it both ways.
"Well wait, didn't we have this discussion two days ago- why weren't we opening up, like Ohio is, to everybody? So which is it? Do we stop at 65? Or do we open it up to everybody?"
Meanwhile, the department today reported 296 new cases of COVID-19, with no deaths.
