As you know, the demand for the vaccine far exceeds the supply at this time. As an approved COVID-19 vaccination provider for Pennsylvania, we must ensure that any vaccines that are distributed to our Practice are administered in accordance with all state and federal requirements. Currently, Pennsylvania is in Phase 1A of their vaccine distribution. In order to be eligible for a vaccine in Phase 1A you must meet one or more of the following:
• Long-term care facility residents
• Health care personnel including, but not limited to:
o Emergency medical service personnel
o Nurses
o Nursing assistants
o Physicians
o Dentists
o Dental hygienists
o Chiropractors
o Therapists
o Phlebotomists
o Pharmacists
o Technicians
o Pharmacy technicians
o Health professions students and trainees
o Direct support professionals
o Clinical personnel in school settings or correctional facilities
o Contractual HCP not directly employed by the health care facility
• Persons not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to infectious material that can transmit disease among or from health care personnel and patients
• Persons ages 65 and older
• Persons ages 16-64 with high-risk conditions*:
o Cancer
o Chronic kidney disease
o COPD
o Down Syndrome
o Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
o Immunocompromised state (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
o Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
o Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
o Pregnancy
o Sickle cell disease
o Smoking
o Type 2 diabetes mellitus