Pennsylvania embarked on what Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine referred to as a “new chapter” in the COVID-19 pandemic Monday as the first Pfizer vaccine doses rolled out for healthcare workers.
“It’s tremendously satisfying to be able to get the vaccine and to start immunizing,” Levine said in a Monday press briefing. “But we have to be realistic as well. It is going to take a significant period of time to roll out the vaccine through the three phases and to immunize the public in Pennsylvania, as it is throughout the country.”
Pennsylvania received 97,500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which comes in trays of 975 doses, across 83 hospitals, including UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, where five healthcare workers received the city’s first doses. The state will also receive a new round next week, but, according to Levine, it’s unclear how many will be allotted until right before a given week.
The Moderna vaccine, which does not require refrigeration in extremely cold temperatures like the Pfizer vaccine, will begin distribution in Pennsylvania next week, Levine said.
Vaccines will be distributed in three phases that prioritize essential workers and those most at risk of the virus. The general public in Pennsylvania likely will not receive the vaccine until late spring or the summer, Levine said.
“Mitigation now is more important than ever, especially during these winter months,” Levine said.
Levine also discussed the continued, disastrous toll of the virus, which still stresses hospital capacity in the state, she said. Across the state, 5,970 individuals are hospitalized with the virus, about 20.5% of which are in intensive care units.
State and local cases
The state’s health department confirmed 18,646 new COVID-19 cases reported in the past two days — 10,684 cases reported Sunday and 7,962 reported Monday. The department also confirmed 230 new deaths reported from the weekend — 201 new deaths by end of day Saturday and 129 new deaths by end of day Sunday.
The Allegheny County Health Department [ACHD] confirmed 1,647 new COVID-19 cases reported in the past 48 hours Monday as well as five new deaths.
READ ENTIRE ARTICLE AT:
About Post Author
