Vaccines In Chester County: State Rep. Explains Inequities

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — As Chester County's COVID-19 incidence rate has fallen every week for a month, the supply of vaccine against the disease remains low here, even as officials have hounded the state.

The Chester County Health Department has made clear it is well prepared for a mass vaccine rollout that can't happen without vaccine doses to put into arms.

The Pennsylvania Health Department's March 12 update said Chester County has fully vaccinated 43,315 persons. The county's health department has given both vaccine doses to 49,297. When other vaccination deliverers are included, such as pharmacies and hospitals, the total number of vaccine doses given in Chester County is 134,891; of that number, however, 91,576 are first doses.

Rep. Dianne Herrin (D-156th) provided a vaccination distribution update on Thursday.

Herrin acknowledged "the per-capita distribution of vaccine is not equitable from county to county," across Pennsylvania, as was reported on March 5 as a group of county commissioners prepared to confront the state about inequities in distribution that left suburban Philadelphia far short of vaccine supply in light of their large populations.

Here are the March 5 statistics for first doses administered per 100,000 individuals, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health:

• Bucks: 6,742.2 (4th in population)
• Delaware County: 7,783.5 (5th in population)
• Chester County: 8,874.3 (7th in population)
• Montgomery County: 11,897.7 (3rd in population)

Meanwhile, the following comparatively small counties have administered a similar or larger amount of doses per 100,000 residents:

• Mifflin: 7,286.8 (46th in population)
• Montour: 9,577.6 (62nd in population)
• Mercer: 9,656.0 (30th in population)
• Elk: 10,946.2 (59th in population)
• Cameron: 14,886 (67th in population)
• Sullivan: 19,238.4 (66th in population)

Read that full Patch story here.

The good news, Herrin said, is Chester County is keeping up with the statewide vaccination rate of 15 percent of the population vaccinated, and the PA Department of Health promises to make distribution equitable based on its COVID index for all future shipments. Right now, she said, those who pre-registered with the Chester County Health Department in mid-January are receiving appointments, thanks to a new shipment of approximately 2,000 first doses.

Rep. Melissa Shusterman (D-157th) said on Tuesday, "I continue to stand with my fellow Southeastern elected officials in demanding accountability, transparency, and results from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Each and every Pennsylvanian deserves a smooth and efficient vaccine rollout. Our asks are simple. We will continue to fight for our region to get back on track and return to a sense of normalcy and security as soon as possible."

Yet Herrin explained in a statement Thursday that "because of the way vaccines are distributed, it’s just not reasonable to expect equity by county on a population-only basis."

Herrin offered an explanation of how the state's allocation works. "The PA DOH now distributes its federal allocation to locations like the Chester County Health Department based on other factors besides total population per county, using a 2-step 'COVID index.' So, counties with higher infection and death rates, more 65-plus residents, and more capacity to administer/store vaccine, get more vaccines."

Herrin's statement explained more about why Chester County hasn't gotten more vaccine:

• The PA Department of Health (DOH) sends vaccines to one facility in large health systems for redistribution to sister hospitals. Elk County, for example, is home to a six-hospital health system spanning five counties. In these situations, vaccine distribution is documented as going to just one county even though vaccines are redistributed elsewhere.

• We now have three vaccines but, in December, we had just one vaccine (Pfizer), and it required ultra-cold storage. So, these vaccines could only be sent to counties with specialized storage equipment.

• There are at least 6 different vaccine distribution channels (retail drug stores, drug stores supplying directly to nursing homes, state Department of Health, direct federal allocations to large municipalities like Philadelphia, physician providers, and more). Each channel receives vaccine allocations directly from the federal government, and the allocations in many cases are earmarked for targeted priority groups. For example, for months, CVS and Walgreens received vaccines only for distribution to long-term skilled nursing care facilities, so distribution to these drugstores in the counties across Pennsylvania depended on the number of skilled nursing care facilities per county. Now, Intermediate Units are receiving the new J&J single-dose vaccine for delivery only to educators and support staff, so the number of vaccines per county will depend on the number of educators/support staff in each county, not on total population.

Herrin said this decentralized vaccine distribution system, which is controlled by the federal government, is complicated and hard to track. "It has also led to what many dub the 'hunger games' — or sharing of appointment registration links with friends and neighbors, hunting down vaccines in other counties and states, and release of vaccines by providers who are not adhering to the prioritization guidelines," she said.

Vaccine supplied by the manufacturers — and the subsequent allocations by the federal government to the PA DOH and then to Chester County — will dictate how quickly those who are waiting for a vaccine will get appointments, according to Herrin.

The Chester County Department of Health stands ready to mass-vaccinate residents as soon as supplies come in.

Manufacturing is definitely ramping up, and Herrin reported on March 11 that Pennsylvania is expected to receive an influx of vaccines, "We hope in a few weeks."

Herrin said her office will complete all pre-registration forms for the Chester County Health Department and the Chester County Hospital vaccination programs for constituents who need assistance. Herrin's District Office is open weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The office number is (610) 696-4990.

Everyone who lives and works in Chester County can register their interest in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine with the Chester County Health Department if they have not already done so. Online registration, along with full information on Chester County’s COVID-19 vaccine program, can be found at chesco.org/covidvaccine. For any COVID-19 questions call (610) 344-6225, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Also, those who may wish to search for possible appointments elsewhere in Chester County can try these links:

Rite Aid

Wegman's

Giant

Walgreen's

Walmart

CVS

Read a related story about vaccines distributed in Chester County here.

Justin Heinze contributed to this story.

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