Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
STILL IN THE FIGHT
Wolf: Vaccine success doesn't mean it's time to give up
Gov. Tom Wolf, standing behind a podium set up inside the Berks Community Health Center’s Rockland Street location Wednesday morning, spoke proudly about the state’s effort to get Pennsylvanian vaccinated against COVID.
“The vaccine strategy, it’s working,” the governor said.
Wolf stopped by Reading to tout the success the state has had so far getting vaccine shots into people’s arms, and to encourage those who haven’t to do so.
He said Pennsylvania ranks third in the nation for administering first doses, and its rate of 63% of those eligible to get vaccinated being fully covered is far above the national average.
Vaccination rates have been particularly high for older Pennsylvanians, Wolf said, with extremely high numbers for those older than 70.
“We’ve been doing a good job there, that’s something to celebrate,” he said.
But, the governor said, the success so far doesn’t mean it’s time to give up the fight.
“We have to remain vigilant,” he said.
Wolf pointed out that despite daily new cases across the state remaining pretty stable over the past several weeks, the last few days have seen a bit of a jump. The way to combat that, he said, is for everyone who can to get vaccinated.
Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, Wolf said, and the best way to protect your friends and your neighbors and the community at large.
‘Best gift’
The governor said it is important to keep the vaccine momentum moving forward, particularly with
the holiday season rapidly approaching. The holiday season presents increased risk, with families gathering together often indoors.
“Safety and peace of mind is the best gift you can give yourself and your family this holiday season,” he said.
Part of providing that peace of mind is making sure parents get their children vaccinated. Wolf called the recent approval of the Pfizer vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11 an important part of the fight against COVID.
“Let’s make sure they get these vaccines,” he said, stressing that they are safe, effective and free.
State Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson, who joined Wolf Wednesday, echoed that message.
She said medical professionals are excited that younger children can finally get vaccinated, saying it protects not only them but also those around them. And, she added, it’s a key to ensuring students will be able to continue to go to school in-person.
Johnson said she knows getting vaccinated can be scary for kids, and urged parents to talk to them about what it will be like to ease their fears. She also
recommended distracting them while they get the shot, perhaps by singing a song with them or reading them a story.
With the holiday season approaching, Johnson said, getting kids vaccinated is crucial.
“You want to make sure you give them the best protection they can get,” she said. “Vaccination is our best protection, our best way out of this pandemic.”
Those interested in getting themselves or their children vaccinated will have an opportunity to do so today at the Berks Community Health Center facility on Rockland Street. The center will be holding vaccination clinics both days.
Masks in schools
The push to get younger children vaccinated coincides with news this week that Wolf is planning to roll back a statewide mandate that requires everyone to wear masks inside schools. On Monday the governor confirmed he plans to end that order Jan. 17, leaving masking decisions up to local authorities.
When asked about the decision, Wolf said that the approval of the Pfizer vaccine played a large role in that decision. The date he
chose was picked so kids have time to get two doses, he said, so they’re protected as much as possible.
The governor said he his firmly set on the Jan. 17 date, responding to a question about whether that could change by saying it could if a meteor hit the commonwealth.
Wolf did not express concern about the timing of the school mask order ending, even though it comes just after the holiday season. Last year, the holiday season saw a severe spike in COVID cases, representing the state’s worst period of the pandemic.
When asked if he had concerns about a similar spike this year and if that would impact the rollback of the school mask mandate, the governor seemed dumbfounded.
“I don’t see how the two are related,” he said.
The end of the mask mandate might end up coming sooner than Jan. 17. A panel of five Commonwealth Court judges on Wednesday ruled that Wolf’s administration did not have the authority to issue the mandate, declaring it “void and unenforceable.”
The Wolf administration is appealing the decision to the state Supreme Court.