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More than 4,000 people were to be vaccinated Friday with the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as the region hosted its largest clinic to date for the onedose vaccine. But that number was still a couple of thousand fewer than the Allegheny Health Network and the Allegheny County Health Department had hoped.
“We were striving for 6,500 today — that was our original goal,” said Louise Urban, senior vice president of operations for Allegheny Health Network. “At this point, we’re on track for 4,500.”
On the eve of the clinic Thursday, AHN expanded eligibility to those in occupations covered in the state’s Phase 1c category, which is not officially supposed to open until Monday. Friday morning, about an hour before the clinic opened, the health system announced it would also be taking walk-ins.
The clinic was held at Next Tier Connect at Pittsburgh East at 4350 Northern Pike in Monroeville, an office building near the AHN Forbes Hospital.
By 2 p.m., about 380 walk-ins had come in to be vaccinated, said Ms. Urban. She noted that they had seen some bump in appointments Thursday night after opening to Phase 1c.
“For those individuals who walked in, they were very happy for the opportunity and grateful that we were able to open it up,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of good feedback.”
AHN and the county health department, with the assistance of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the Pennsylvania National Guard, hope to administer an additional 6,500 Johnson & Johnson vaccines at another clinic Saturday at the same location from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Thereare still many openings available for people who are eligible under phases 1a, 1b and 1c, though Saturday’s clinic is by appointment only and will not accept walk-ins. Appointments
are available by calling 412-362-8677 or visiting AHN.com/coronavirus. Opening to all adults is not on the table at this point for the weekend clinics, said Ms. Urban, noting that the health system was still following state guidelines. COVID-19 vaccine eligibility is scheduled to open to all Pennsylvanians 16 and older on April 19.
Some pharmacists and observers have called for the state to expand its eligibility categories sooner, noting that appointments were going unfilled by those currently eligible.
Another pharmacy that hosts clinics in Monroeville did open up to all adults Friday. Mainline Pharmacy, which hosts clinics at Monroeville Mall, as well as numerous locations in Westmoreland, Indiana and Somerset counties, posted on Facebook Friday that “we have extra appointments this week and don’t want anyone to miss an opportunity to be vaccinated if they want to be!”
Those interested can make an appointment at mainlinepharmacy.com/ covid-vaccine-scheduling.
In addition, Pittsburgh Mercy on Friday announced it would be offering vaccinations by appointment this weekend and early next week to adults 18 years and older at Pittsburgh Mercy Family Health Center, 249 South Ninth St. Register at: https://www.pittsburghmercy. covid-19-vaccination/.
Clinic hours are Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Monday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments can be scheduled at www.pittsburghmercy.org or by calling 412-918-0631.