Pennsylvania Reaches Important Milestone In COVID Vaccine Distribution

Governor Tom Wolf announced all patients and employees at Pennsylvania nursing facilities who requested a COVID-19 vaccine have received it as of Tuesday (February 23) afternoon.

More than 600 nursing facilities have already received their first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, while more than 315,000 total doses have been administered among all long-term care facilities by CVS and Walgreens, Gov. Wolf announced in a press conference via WPXI.

“This is an important milestone for Pennsylvania, and it marks key progress in ensuring that our most vulnerable residents have access to a vaccine,” Wolf said. “Skilled nursing, personal care and assisted living facilities have been hit hard by the pandemic, which is why this milestone is such an important one for us to recognize — because it shows how far we have come in protecting our most vulnerable residents.”

The state of Pennsylvania is prioritizing its most vulnerable residents in Phase 1a of its COVID-19 vaccine plan, which aims to have nursing and other long-term care facilities receive adequate vaccine supply for residents and staff, according to a news release obtained by WPXI.

Gov. Wolf said the state provided two shots to residents and staff at the Pennsylvania nursing homes, while distribution in long-term care facilities continues, but is expected to be completed by mid-March.

Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said vaccinations in long-term care facilities will continue, with each facility having "at least three vaccination clinics, so we can ensure that as many residents and staff who want to get vaccinated have the opportunity."

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