Pennsylvania still lags behind other states in the rate of COVID-19 vaccination.
1.8 million doses of vaccine have already been shipped to Pennsylvania. But fewer than 40 percent of them have been injected into arms.
State department of health spokeswoman April Hutcheson says there is a delay in the reporting of data. And there's also some confusion as to whether health care workers in group 1A have all had access to the vaccine.
"We're hearing from health care systems specifically that they vaccinated everybody and we're hearing from providers that they haven't gotten vaccinated, so that's why we keep making the calls to say if you are a non-affiliated healthcare provider and you haven't gotten vaccinated, call the hospital to make sure that you get vaccinated," she said.
The scarcity of the coronavirus vaccine is causing some serious frustration statewide. Health officials say there's a shortage of the COVID vaccine. And Pennsylvanians are getting impatient. Only 5.5% percent of Pennsylvanians have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
By comparison, nearly 10-percent of West Virginians have been injected.
Allegheny County is ahead of most counties, with more than 52,000 residents at least partially vaccinated.
Hutcheson is asking everyone for patience. And those who aren't eligible yet should not try to cut in line. "We need to make sure that those most vulnerable in our community are protected so that we can eliminate the burden on our healthcare system and save lives."
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Phase 1A includes health care workers, anyone over 65, and those with medical conditions that put them at greater risk.
