Allegheny County Expands COVID-19 Vaccination Eligibilty

PITTSBURGH, PA — Allegheny County is expanding the number of people eligible for its coronavirus vaccination sites. Beginning Friday, the county health department will add people aged 50 to 64 who meet Phase 1A medical conditions.

That includes those who have cancer; chronic kidney disease; COPD; Down syndrome; heart conditions but not high blood pressure; the immunocompromised and obese and those who have sickle cell disease or diabetes.

“We remain committed in our vaccination approach to serve the most at risk in our county first,” county health director Dr. Debra Bogen said. “By the end of the week, at least 50% of those county residents who are 65 years of age and older will have received at least one vaccine. Although we still have work to do serving this population, these data tell us we need to expand our eligibility requirements for vaccination.”

The announcement follows news earlier this week of three additional COVID-19 vaccine clinics opening by the end of the month.

Appointments at all sites are available only through the health department. Individuals should not contact the sites. All vaccines will be by appointment only. As has been the case, appointments will be announced through Allegheny Alerts and then posted on the county’s COVID-19 vaccine page.

Residents without Internet access, or having difficulty navigating the online registration system, can contact 211 for assistance in scheduling when appointments are available. Anyone arriving without an appointment, or not meeting priority criteria will be turned away. Walk-up registrations are not available.

Central Baptist Church will be the new site in the Central Hill District and will open March 22. The Health Department and Duquesne University’s Center for Integrative Health will operate this site with the goal of targeting specific communities and populations who have not yet been reached. This includes serving those who have additional needs such as accessibility and translation.

The Peterson Events Center will serve as a temporary site in Oakland. The Health Department is collaborating with the University of Pittsburgh, for clinics operating Thursday and four days next week. Pitt’s Schools of Pharmacy, Nursing, Medicine, Dental Medicine, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and Graduate School of Public Health are serving as vaccinators.

The Ross Township Community Center site will open next week.