Coronavirus Vaccines In Philadelphia: Latest Updates

Philadelphia PA

12 February, 2021

4:00 PM

Description

PHILADELPHIA — As of Thursday, more than 138,000 people have gotten one dose of the coronavirus vaccine in Philadelphia, according to the Department of Public Health. The department also reports more than 62,500 full vaccinations in the city. So where does Philly stand in terms of vaccinating more residents? Below are the latest updates in vaccine rollout in the city of Philadelphia. How Many Have Gotten The Vaccine? Since vaccination distribution began in late December, 138,095 partial and 62,537 full vaccination have been administered in Philadelphia as of Thursday. The city has a population of roughly 1.3 million according to census data. The city has been getting about 10,000 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines weekly. However, those allocations have increased. This week, the city got 10,700 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 14,400 doses of the Moderna vaccine. Officials this week said a single-dose vaccine from Johnson & Johnson could arrive in Philadelphia next month, but it's unclear how many doses will be given to the city. Additionally, a new partnership with the federal movement and pharmacies is bringing 4,900 Moderna doses to Rite Aid pharmacies specifically. Who Gets Vaccinated And When? The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is vaccinating residents in Phases 1A and 1B. Phase 1A includes patient-facing healthcare workers and elderly residents of long-term care facilities, while 1B includes frontline workers at high risk for exposure who perform essential duties, persons working and residing in congregate settings, persons 75 years and older, and persons with high-risk medical conditions. While 1B vaccinations are underway, providing vaccines to the entire group will take weeks, as about 400,000 residents fall within that group. Phases 1c and 2 includes essential workers with lower risk of exposure as well as persons 65 to 74 years old, and all individuals 16 years and older not previously immunized, respectively. Officials have been unable to establish dates for the phased roll-outs because they must wait on vaccine supplies to arrive here. In Philadelphia, 105,715 people have had the coronavirus as of Friday. Additionally, 2,866 county residents have died of the coronavirus to date, and 1,090 of those who died were in long-term care, according to the latest data. Residents seeking the vaccine can complete the Phase 1A and 1B Interest Survey. Complete the survey online here. Those who complete the survey will be contacted by the health department when they can schedule vaccination appointments. More information on the phases can be found here. Where Can I Get Vaccinated? Officials said first- and second-dose vaccination clinics will open Feb. 22 in the city with a goal of vaccinating 500 people per day. Each week the city will run three first-dose and three second-dose vaccinations clinics. These sites are the Community Academy of Philadelphia Charter School in Harrowgate, Martin Luther King Older Adult Center in North Philadelphia, and the University of the Sciences in West Philadelphia. Residents older than 75 or who have specific health conditions should contact their primary health care providers to inquire about vaccination. Hospitals and qualified health centers are also no inviting patients who meet criteria to be vaccinated. Employers are now encouraged to register with the Health Department to coordinate vaccinations for their workforce as they become eligible. Employers can sign up online here. The city is teaming up with CHOP to vaccinate teachers, principals, and staff at all schools in Philadelphia. See details on that effort here. Additionally, Shop Rite and Walgreens locations in the city are offering 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. Residents are encouraged to monitor the Pennsylvania Vaccine Provider Map for other possible locations of vaccine providers in the county. Additional Information Answers to frequently asked questions about the vaccine are online here. For more information call the health department at 215-686-5200. Officials reiterated the vaccine is not a cure for the virus. Rather, it is another tool in the fight against the virus. The public is urged not to relax other safety precautions because vaccines are available. Health officials encourage everyone to continue to wear a mask, wash or sanitize hands often and practice 6-foot distancing to help keep the virus from spreading.