by PublicSource Reporters
Allegheny County Health Department reported 276 new COVID-19 cases and two new deaths Thursday.
The new cases — from positive tests dated Dec. 27 to Mar. 3 — come from individuals 7 months old to 95 years old, with a median age of 35.
Among the new deaths, dated Dec. 7 and Mar. 2, one person was in their 80s, and the other was in their 90s. Both deaths were associated with long-term care facilities.
To date, Allegheny County Health Department has reported 77,515 cases, 1,688 deaths from the virus and 5,137 past and present hospitalizations.
Gov. Tom Wolf announced Wednesday that Pennsylvania will administer its doses of the newly FDA-approved one-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to public and private school staff as a priority in an effort to more quickly reopen schools .
“Getting students back into classrooms is a priority for our COVID task force,” Wolf said in a Wednesday press briefing. “We all know that in-person education is absolutely important for students, and we all want to give our students the tools they need to succeed.”
In the new vaccine’s first week of distribution, the federal government will distribute 94,600 doses directly to Pennsylvania and 30,000 to CVS pharmacies in the state. Wolf said all of the more than 120,000 doses will go to teachers and other public and private school staff such as janitors and bus drivers.
Gov. Wolf signed a bill Wednesday preparing the Pennsylvania National Guard to assist with vaccination in the state. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the education and health departments will work with 28 Intermediate Units to assist in vaccinating school staff members.
Because the J&J vaccine requires only one dose as opposed to the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, states will soon be able to administer vaccine doses much more efficiently.
While the J&J vaccine has been shown to be somewhat less effective at preventing transmission of the virus than the other two vaccines, it is highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death. In addition to it being easier to administer, Wolf said he doesn’t believe anyone should feel like they’re getting a worse vaccine.
“There might be a slightly higher risk that you can get some sickness, feel some sickness because of COVID-19, but it’s 100% effective from keeping that disease from becoming more serious,” Wolf said.
Cesar Augusto Amaya Garzon, 73, receiving a vaccine shot. (Photo courtesy of Casa San José)
READ ENTIRE ARTICLE AT:
PA to administer one-dose vaccine to public and private school employees
About Post Author
