Governor Tom Wolf was in North Franklin Township Wednesday, touring a vaccine clinic at Washington Crown Center and discussing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the state.
Wolf touted Pennsylvania's progress in the vaccine rollout, saying the state is No. 1 in administering first doses among the ten most populous states.
"I'm really proud of what we're doing, but that's not us, that's what's happening here on the ground in places like Washington Health System," Wolf said.
Washington Health System currently runs three COVID-19 vaccine clinics at WHS Greene, the Peters Township Community Recreation Center and Washington Crown Center.
The clinics have been open by appointment only, but the Washington Crown Center will accept walk-ins Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
"Normally, at this site, we would do appointments only, but in an effort to try to eliminate the barrier of getting people scheduled, we're going to have walk-in clinics for the Pfizer vaccine the next two days," said Brook Ward, president and CEO of Washington Health System.
Though statistics for Pennsylvania's vaccine rollout have improved over the last few months, officials continue to navigate vaccine hesitancy.
Wolf said there are initiatives currently in place, while the COVID-19 vaccine task force continues to consider other ideas.
"Our outreach is, in part, PSA's," he said. "It's in part purchased media. It's trying to make sure that we're finding people who give testimonials who are just like the people who we're trying to reach."
Some states are getting creative with incentives.
West Virginia is offering younger people who get vaccinated a $100 savings bond. Connecticut is giving free alcoholic drinks to people who show their vaccination card at participating restaurants.
"We haven't talked about that, but that's the kind of thing we would talk about, the vaccine task force," he said. "I think we want to see how this goes."
State Rep. Tim O'Neal (R-Washington County), who is a part of the state's COVID-19 vaccine task force, was also in attendance.
