The Latest Montgomery County COVID-19 Vaccine Updates

NORRISTOWN, PA — Another week, another series of cautiously optimistic updates regarding the vaccine rollout in Montgomery County and Pennsylvania.

Despite seeing progress on several fronts, however, there remains a tremendous wait line in the state, as well an ongoing shortage of supply. The county is still focused on vaccinating the 1A priority group, as well as school employees.

A total of 185,000 residents are now preregistered in the county, an increase of about 13,000 over last week. The county is continuing to vaccinate about 1,000 people a day. It could still take up to 12 weeks to hear back about scheduling an appointment once you register for an appointment, so patience is urged.

The county expects to be working on pre-registrations made on Jan. 14 next week.

As of Monday morning, Montgomery County has administered 96,900 partial vaccinations and 52,395 full vaccinations.

Here's the latest from around the county:

"Disappointing and frustrating" meeting with state on inequities

After a meeting with the Pennsylvania Department of Health on Sunday, officials in counties in southeastern Pennsylvania say they still are largely in the dark as to why they have received a significantly lower allocation of doses than other, less-populated parts of the state, and what's being done to remedy the inequity.

"There remains a lack of transparency on the total doses that have come to our counties from every source," the joint statement from Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, and Chester county leaders reads. "Therefore, we have no way to assess how the data presented to us today was calculated, and how those calculations have been used to determine the number of doses that have been allocated to our four counties." MORE.

Teachers to receive vaccine

The Montgomery County Intermediate Unit will receive an allocation of doses from the Pennsylvania Department of Health to vaccinate teachers and other school employees, including janitors, bus drivers, food service staff, and more.

"It's just terrific news for our schools," Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh said. "We e all know how challenging the school situation has been."

Some 4 million Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses are expected in the state by the end of March, and the bulk of teachers should be immunized by then. MORE.

Third vaccine clinic to open

Montgomery County is planning to open a third mass vaccine site this week in a strip mall across the street from the Willow Grove Mall. The site is expected to have a huge capacity, up to 10,000 doses a day, once enough supply received. That includes about 5,000 first doses and 5,000 second doses. MORE.

County CVS pharmacies to receive more doses

Several CVS locations around Montgomery County are among those that will receive an increase in doses this week, the company announced. That includes locations in Abington, North Wales, Plymouth Meeting, Ambler, King of Prussia, Horsham, and elsewhere. MORE.

Second doses to be given 28 days later

Montgomery County announced changes to its coronavirus vaccine policy, as all second doses of the vaccine will now be given following a 28-day interval.

This interval will be steady regardless of which vaccine patients received. Authorities say that slightly extending the interval between doses will expedite the total number of vaccinations, and will increase the supply granted to the county. "There is no medical reason we cannot extend the interval," Arkoosh said. MORE.

How many people are ahead of me in line?

To find where you are in line, you can compare the date you registered to these statistics on daily new registrants.

How To Sign Up

You can pre-register for a vaccine appointment here if you are in the 1A group.
Due to limited supplies, it may be up to 12 weeks before you hear back about confirming an appointment. Don't panic; if you pre-registered, your name is in the system.