Philly Health Dept Launching Mass Vaccination Sites Feb 22

Philadelphia PA

02 February, 2021

1:43 PM

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PHILADELPHIA — The coronavirus vaccine rollout in Philadelphia has been plagued by controversy recently, but the city's top doctor said later this month the city will launch its own mass vaccination clinics. During a news conference Tuesday, Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said the Department of Public Health will open clinics for first- and second-dose vaccine administration. The clinics will open on the week of Feb. 22. Farley said the department will operate several sites, details of which have not been released, with the goal of vaccinating 500 people per day. Each week the city will run three first-dose and three second-dose vaccinations clinics. Farley said vaccine appointments will be made for people who meet the Phase 1 criteria and signed up on the city's vaccination registration website. Residents can register online here. As for those who received first doses from Philly Fighting COVID at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the health department will be providing second doses to them Wednesday through Friday, as well as all next week, Farley said. Additionally, Farley said Shop Rite and Walgreens locations in the city will offer vaccines for people over 75 years old. The city will contact people 75 and older who signed up on the city's website. More pharmacies in Philadelphia will offer vaccine administration in the future, Farley said. The health department is encouraging hospitals to operate mass vaccination clinics now that a majority of healthcare workers have received vaccines. For now, hospitals and qualified health centers are inviting patients who meet criteria to make vaccination appointments. Farley said residents who want to get the vaccine and are in Phase 1B should contact their employer about being inoculated. Additionally, he said residents who have high-risk medical conditions — such as cancer, chronic kidney disease, organ transplant, and diabetes — should contact their healthcare provider to inquire about vaccine availability. While 1B vaccinations are underway, Farley said providing vaccines to the entire group will take weeks, as about 400,000 resident fall within that group. As of Tuesday, 105,306 people have been given the first dose of the vaccine and 36,348 have been given the second dose. Residents can call the city's COVID Call Center at 215-685-5488 for more information on the city's response to coronavirus or visit the city's website here.