County readies plan for COVID vaccine distribution

Delaware County hospitals have begun administering COVID-19 vaccinations to health care workers during the early phases of a vaccine distribution plan, according to a release from Delaware County Council Wednesday.

“Getting Pennsylvanians immunized with a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is an essential step in reducing the number of virus-related cases, hospitalizations and deaths, including all those who continue to take care of us,” state Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said in a separate release. “There are nearly one million health care personnel across the commonwealth who work directly or indirectly with patients and are eligible for vaccine initially. The department will continue to follow and update our COVID-19 interim vaccination plan to address how and when all Pennsylvanians can receive their vaccine.”

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is finalizing a plan to provide COVID-19 vaccines to residents and staff of long-term care facilities, the release said. Hospitals, long-term care facilities and EMS providers are the priority for vaccination distribution due to the limited initial supply.

Delaware County hospitals have received a first allotment of vaccination doses and are in the process of vaccinating frontline healthcare workers, according to the release. Delaware County healthcare providers can complete this form to receive information and updates related to the COVID-19 vaccine: https://bit.ly/VaxHCP.

Both approved vaccines – the Pfizer-BioNTech version and Moderna version – are being distributed throughout Pennsylvania, including in Delaware County, the release says, with more doses on the way. Both vaccines require two doses for full effectiveness, with a second shot given three weeks after the first.

The county also continues to plan for a wider vaccination distribution to the medical community and the public at large as more vaccines become available. Delaware County is partnering with the Chester County Health Department and DOH to distribute the vaccine through permanent distribution sites, at least one mobile site and at schools, businesses and other locations, according to the release.

The release notes the COVID-19 vaccine is not a cure and that residents will need to continue the same steps they have been taking to mitigate spread, including wearing a mask, hand washing and physical distancing.

More information is available online from the Chester County Health Department at chesco.org/4822/COVID19Vaccine.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Poydras Home resident Martha Treen gets the Moderna vaccine from CVS pharmacist Catherine Ramzy at the home on Magazine Street in New Orleans on Wednesday. Mrs. Treen was hospitalized for several months with COVID-19. Her husband was John Treen, who ran against David Duke. The two were hospitalized in the same room and he died in April.