Governor Tom Wolf and Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam provided an update Monday on the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in Pennsylvania and the challenges that lie ahead due to limited supply of doses from the federal government. Wolf and Beam were joined at a press conference by Interim Acting Physician General Dr. Wendy Braund and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield.
“Pennsylvania has not received enough doses to vaccinate the number of Pennsylvanians who need it, and that’s frustrating to all of us,” said Gov. Wolf. “The Trump Administration asked states to give more doses to more people, but the national stockpile was depleted.
Wolf went on to say that it is “incredibly disappointing that the national vaccine supply is extremely limited, because states rely on the federal government to get the vaccine” and that his administration is fighting to make sure Pennsylvania gets their “fair share of doses.”
Beam added that they want to “ensure that the vaccine is provided in a way that is ethical, equitable and efficient,” which is why they are taking a phased approach.
“This way we can make sure the most vulnerable residents get vaccinated now,” she said.
Vaccine providers have administered vaccines to a total of 605,633 people, including 473,449 people who have received their first dose and 132,184 who have received two doses and are considered fully vaccinated. Pennsylvania will receive 143,275 first doses of vaccine and 137,625 second doses of vaccine this week, bringing the total doses the commonwealth has received to more than 1.5 million total doses of vaccine.
Federal institutions and Philadelphia are receiving and administering their own doses, which are not included in the state’s totals.”
PEMA is working with the Department of Health and county emergency management partners to ensure that county plans will be ready to execute as vaccines become more readily available.
“Like many people, we look forward to the day that we have sufficient COVID vaccine doses for everyone who wants one,” said Padfield. “When that day comes, PEMA and our federal and county partners will be ready to open vaccination clinics that meet the needs of the diverse communities across the state.”
As of Monday, McKean County had administered 1,568 partial doses and 318 full doses of the COVID-19 vaccine; Potter County, 195 partial and 271 full; Cameron, 246 partial and 32 full; and Elk County, 2,488 partial and 461 full.
