PA Vaccine Rollout: These Counties Have Most Vaccinated So Far

PENNSYLVANIA — While millions of Pennsylvanians anxiously wait their turn for their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, state officials continue to preach patience as they wait for more doses from the federal government.

A supply chain issue notwithstanding, the state Department of Health earlier this week announced plans to open dozens of mass vaccination sites, with at least one in each county able to carry about 500 vaccinations per day. The state also plans to deploy mobile vaccination trucks — capable of around 150 vaccinations per day — in underserved communities that might not otherwise receive doses.

In eastern Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley Health Network recently held a mass vaccination site at Dorney Park, with plans for additional clinics in Northampton and Monroe counties in the near future as supplies become available.

Meanwhile, the White House announced plans to ship one million doses directly to roughly 6,500 pharmacies nationwide by Thursday, including RiteAid locations throughout Pennsylvania. There will be 196 total drive-through sites opening at Rite Aid locations across the state. Go here for an interactive map of locations offering vaccinations.

Pennsylvania is currently in Phase 1A of the vaccine rollout, which includes residents of long-term care facilities, health care workers, people over 65 and people aged 16 to 64 with high-risk medical conditions. Subsequent phases will include other essential workers and first responders who were not included in the first phase before the rest of the population can be vaccinated.

Are you eligible for the vaccine? Take the Vaccine Eligibility Quiz.

Hospitals across the state began receiving shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine the week of Dec. 14. By the following week, the Moderna vaccine had arrived.

Thus far, the state has administered more than 1.2 million vaccinations. These numbers do not include Philadelphia, which is its own jurisdiction.

Here are the 10 counties leading the state in vaccinations, as of Friday's data:

1. Allegheny - 64,492
2. Montgomery - 52,336
3. Lehigh - 30,418
4. Delaware - 29,679
5. Bucks - 29,621
6. Luzerne - 26,118
7. Northampton - 25,140
8. Chester - 24,768
9. Lancaster - 24,377
10. Lackawanna - 20,198

State lawmakers who serve on the House Democratic Policy Committee plan to hold a virtual hearing on the state's vaccine rollout on Monday. The committee will hear from testifiers that can provide perspective from nursing homes, hospitals, counties and rural communities.

Pennsylvanians can learn more about where they can get vaccinated and when they'll be eligible at the state Department of Health's vaccine website here.