Why Delco hasn’t gotten any COVID vaccines yet
Eighty-seven hospitals across Pennsylvania are slated to receive the COVID-19 vaccine - but Delaware County, despite its staggering rate of positive cases - is not on the list.
Gov. Tom Wolf announced the dissemination of 97,500 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 to dozens of hospitals throughout Pennsylvania as they are intended for critical health care workers. State officials said the hospitals on the vaccine distribution plan had to have enrolled as a COVID-19 vaccine provider.
Hospitals in Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties were on the list and some have already received the vaccine. The Philadelphia County Health Department received 13,650 doses that it is distributing to hospitals within the city limits.
Rachel Kostelac, spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Department of Health, spoke to the issue of why Delaware County isn’t on the list.
“At this time, although vaccine may not be in every county, it is intended for use for the 66 counties, as health care personnel may work in one county and live in another,” she said. “Additionally, the hospitals and health systems are operating out of a hub and spoke model to get vaccines to all health care workers in their system. Those facilities that have not received vaccine at this time should be receiving in the near future.”
A nurse at Delaware County
Memorial Hospital said staff there indicated the vaccine may be available there for internal distribution as early as next week. Another at the Mercy Fitzgerald campus of Mercy Catholic Medical Center in Darby said they haven’t heard about receiving the vaccine but would very much like one.
Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine is scheduled to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine distribution at a 1:30 p.m. livestream today, which can be viewed at facebook.com/pennsylvaniadepartmentofhealth or pacast.com/ live/doh. Spanish speakers may view it at pacast.com/live/es or facebook.com/PAGACLA.
State officials said hospitals were selected based on their ability to manage the cold chain requirement with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, completion of the COVID-19 provider agreement, and successful onboarding with the Department of Health for necessary documentation of vaccination. They added that the number of doses, recipient hospitals and arrival dates are subject to change based on updated information from the federal government and Pfizer.
“These first doses of vaccine are being given specifically to health care workers through hospitals,” Levine said. “Hospitals are making arrangements to implement these vaccinations, not only to their own frontline staff but to other high-priority recipients. The number of people we can immunize truly depends on how quickly the manufacturers can make the vaccine.”
The vaccine will be disseminated in three phases. The first phase, which is expected to take several months, is targeted to health care workers, EMS first responders and residents and staff in congregate care settings. The second phase will be for essential workers who cannot work remotely and must work in proximity to others. The final third stage will cover all of those not previously vaccinated, once the state Department of Health has adequate supply. At its completion, the entire state population will have access to the vaccine.
On Tuesday, Doylestown Hospital in Bucks County received,
1,950 doses of the vaccine and on Wednesday, Suburban Community Hospital in East Norriton, Montgomery County, received
975 doses. The following hospitals have not yet received doses but are on the state’s list to get them: Bucks County: Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol, St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne; Chester County: Brandywine Hospital in Coatesville, Chester County Hospital in West Chester, Jennersville Hospital LLC. in West Grove, Phoenixville Hospital; Montgomery County: Abington Memorial Hospital, Einstein Medical Center, East Norriton, Lankenau Medical Center of Main Line Health in Wynnewood, Norristown State Hospital, Pottstown Hospital.
As of Wednesday, Delaware County had 24,814 positive cases of COVID-19 and 897 deaths attributed to the virus.