Penn State Health kicks off open inoculations, including site in Berks
Penn State Health said Tuesday that it administered COVID vaccinations to more than 1,400 members of the public during its first day of open vaccinations, including some in Berks County.
The heath system will continue to offer appointments to the public, but the scheduling is limited due to the limited vaccine supply. Previously, the health system had been reaching out to its most at-risk patients for vaccinations.
Anyone who is currently eligible to receive the vaccine as part of Phase 1A can register for an appointment at one of these new sites:
• Berks County: EnerSys Technology Center, 2400 Bernville Road, Bern Township.
• Centre County: Penn State Health Medical Group Colonnade, 32 Colonnade Way, State Col
lege.
• Cumberland County: Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center, 431 N. 21st St., Camp Hill.
• Dauphin County, former Power Train Gym,
30 E. Granade Ave., #200, Hershey.
The sites are part of the health system’s plan to provide broader, more convenient access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Hours at each site will vary and are based on vaccine availability.
Additional appointment slots will open once
additional doses of vaccine are received.
Walk-in appointments are not available at the sites due to reporting requirements.
Those who are eligible can register to be notified
when an appointment is available at vaccinescheduler.pennstatehealth.org or by calling 1-844-774-8883.
The state remains in Phase 1A vaccinations, which includes anyone
age 65 and older, plus long-term care facility residents, ambulance crews, nurses, nursing assistants, physicians, dentists, dental hygienists, chiropractors, therapists, phlebotomists, pharmacists, technicians, pharmacy technicians, health professions students and trainees, direct support professionals, clinical personnel in school settings or correctional facilities, contractual health care professionals not directly employed by a health care facility, persons not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to infectious material.
Phase 1A also includes anyone age 16-64 with these conditions: cancer,
chronic kidney disease, COPD, Down syndrome, heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, weakened immune system from solid organ transplant or from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines, obesity, pregnancy, sickle cell disease, smoking, Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Penn State Health cautioned members of the public to anticipate high wait times when registering by phone and extended scheduling options when using the website due to high demand and limited vaccine supply.