PA Updates Vaccine Order: New Deadline For 1A Scheduling

PENNSYLVANIA — Officials in Pennsylvania signed an updated order this week which sets a new deadline of March 31 for when all of the 1A phase must be scheduled for vaccinations.

The order puts in place various stipulations to facilitate the "aggressive" timeline.

“This order requires vaccine providers to use all reasonable efforts to meet this goal by the end of the month,” Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said in a statement. “Providers also are encouraged to consider other barriers to vaccination, such as transportation issues, and tackle those so that our most vulnerable can most easily access the vaccine.”

The order states that vaccine providers should utilize mobile clinics, and be considerate of days and times that might be easier for certain vulnerable populations to receive their doses.

Gov. Wolf originally announced this date last week as March 28, but the updated order revises the deadline to March 31.

The state received 278,670 first doses this week and 242,270 second doses. Both numbers marked modest increases over last week; much more significant increases are expected later in the month.

The end of March, now just fourteen days away, should be a turning point in Pennsylvania's immunization efforts. That marks when the state expects to complete school employee vaccinations, meaning it can turn its attention to some of 1B. Certain individuals including police officers, firefighters, and grocery store workers will begin receiving the Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccine at that point.

For full information about getting a coronavirus vaccine in Pennsylvania, visit Patch's information hub.