Is the COVID-19 vaccine really harder to find than a Pennsylvania road without potholes?
According to multiple people who have reached out to The Era, it seems that way.
The figures available Monday from the Pennsylvania Department of Health indicated that organizations in Elk County have given 3,804 first doses and 3,048 second doses of the vaccine.
No other local county comes close to that number. McKean County has given 1,827 first doses and 1,767 second doses. Potter County has given 513 first doses and 445 second doses. Cameron County has given 872 first doses and 288 second doses.
When The Era asked the health department why numbers vary so much in similar-size counties, there was no clear answer. Instead, a spokesperson explained how the vaccine distribution process works.
The health department is told the number of vaccines the state will receive for the week, then distributes a survey to “enrolled providers to determine their vaccine request.” The requests are reviewed, and a list is created of interested vaccine providers that week.
“DOH uses a formula to determine how to allocate vaccine among counties/providers based on factors including: their current allocations, amount on hand for distribution, amount administered, population, percent positivity and death rate,” explained Maggi Barton, deputy press secretary.
Then the DOH will tell providers how much vaccine they will receive, and orders are submitted to the CDC. The vaccine is shipped from the manufacturers to the vaccine providers and when received, the providers check it in with the health department.
“Vaccine providers deliver the vaccine to residents currently eligible in phase 1A of the vaccination plan,” she explained.
Acknowledging that demand far outpaces supply, Barton said, “We know that there is significant interest among all Pennsylvanians about when they will get vaccinated. The Pennsylvania Department of Health is working to ensure that everyone who wants a COVID-19 vaccine can get it. We must have patience as the amount of vaccine available to Pennsylvanians is extremely limited.”
Locally, vaccine sites listed on the health department’s website include, for McKean County, Bradford Regional Medical Center, UPMC Kane, Rite Aid of Kane, Rite Aid of Port Allegany and Port Allegany Pharmacy.
For Elk County, sites listed are Keystone Rural Health Consortia Ridgway Medical Center, Rite Aid Ridgway, Penn Highlands Elk in St. Marys, St. Marys Pharmacy and Rite Aid in St. Marys.
For Potter County, sites listed are Rite Aid and UPMC Cole, both in Coudersport.
For Cameron County, sites listed are KRHC Cameron County and Rite Aid, both in Emporium.
Older adults who have questions about vaccine availability in their community and how to make an appointment may also call the Department of Health hotline at 1-877-724-3258 to get help.
