HARRISBURG (100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA) — On Wednesday, the Wolf administration announced that seven more hospitals had received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, as of noon.
And in accordance with Pennsylvania's vaccination plan, the doses were given to health care workers.
In total, 16 Pennsylvania hospitals have now received the vaccine.
And the following hospitals received the vaccines on Wednesday:
1. Mount Nittany Medical Center, State College, Centre County
2. Suburban Community Hospital, East Norriton, Montgomery County
3. UPMC Altoona, Altoona, Blair County
4. UPMC Mercy, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
5. WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital, Chambersburg, Franklin County
6. WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital, Gettysburg, Adams County
7. WellSpan Waynesboro Hospital, Waynesboro, Franklin County.
"Each day, hospitals will be shipped vaccines directly from Pfizer and will begin administering it to healthcare workers at the hospital," Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said.
"The 87 hospitals receiving shipments this week enrolled to be COVID-19 vaccine providers. The federal government has determined the amount of vaccine and when the vaccine is distributed. Hospitals receiving the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine must be able to handle the ultra-low temperature storage requirements."
"These first doses of vaccine are being given specifically to health care workers through hospitals."
"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," Levine continued.
87 facilities are scheduled to get the 97,500 Pfizer vaccines by Monday, Dec. 21.
Philadelphia County has already been given its full allotment of 13,650 vaccines.
And the remainder of the doses will be circulated as the first phase of the Interim Vaccine Distribution Plan presses on.
According to the Department of Health, new vaccine allotments will be awarded to sites "by their ability to manage the cold chain requirement with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, completion of the COVID-19 provider agreement, and successful onboarding with the Department of Health for necessary documentation of vaccination."
Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine was given an Emergency Use Authorization from the Food and Drug Administration on Friday, Dec. 11.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices quickly approved its use on Dec. 13.
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