Pennsylvania Ping!
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Posted on 02/12/2021 4:46:00 PM PST by lightman
Pennsylvania announced major changes to COVID-19 vaccination on Friday, saying it will shift the bulk of vaccine to providers who have proven fastest in giving out shots while also adhering to eligibility rules.
State health Secretary Alison Beam acknowledged major concern over Pennsylvania’s low national ranking in vaccine distribution and called changes announced Friday a “pivot” to address shortcomings.
“Pennsylvanians deserve better from us and we will do better,” she said.
Still, Beam stressed that a limited supply of vaccine is the main factor preventing the state from meeting demand.
In order to make best use of the available supply, Beam said Friday vaccine providers as of next week are required to administer at least 80% of their allocations of first doses within seven days of receiving them.
Also, vaccine providers will be required to have someone available to answer the phone and schedule appointments. Previously, some had only online scheduling systems or phone systems that automatically directed callers to online registration, she said.
Beam said she expects the change will help people including older people who have had trouble scheduling appointments because they’re not accustomed to using websites.
She said the state will shift its vaccine supply to providers which bring “urgency, use the vaccine as quickly as possible.” The shift will be based on providers’ data regarding their pace of vaccinations.
According to Beam, about 1,700 Pennsylvania providers have received vaccine so far. She said she expects that number to drop to 200-300. She said providers will consist largely of health systems, federally-qualified health centers and independent pharmacists. Some doctors’ offices, for example, will no longer be getting doses, according to Beam.
Beam referred to the change as response to a “crisis” and said, in the short term, it will favor high volume of vaccinations as opposed to the most convenient locations.
Beam said providers will have through next week to “digest” and comply with the changes before possibly having their doses cut. They will still receive a full allocation of second doses for people they’ve already vaccinated. Moreover, providers can earn back the ability to receive larger allocations, she said.
Beam further said the state will crackdown on providers that continue to use their supplies only for employees -- in some cases employees working from home -- or those who have given vaccine to people who aren’t in Phase 1A, which includes health care workers, long term care residents people over 65 and people 16-64 with chronic medical conditions.
Many Pennsylvania residents, advocates and some providers have urged the state to create a centralized appointment scheduling system. However, Beam on Friday said providers prefer to use their own systems, and the state has no plans for an alternative.
She also stressed vaccine providers must submit data to the state on the race and ethnicity of those getting vaccinated. Beam said it’s critical for the state to ensure the vaccines are getting to vulnerable communities and communities of color.
Of course coming from a Democrap administration the sell is for "vulnerable communities and communities of color" (especially the final three words).
Pennsylvania Ping!
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Central planning is always a disaster.
Ask any former Communist...
There was at least one major system that bumped Board member and "major donors" (regardless of age or condition) to the front of the line.
Perfect example of the slimy, loathsome new American way.
Corrupt, selfish politicians. Jail and prison "correctional system" including clerical workers. The admin. staff and billing dept. staff at hospitals and medical centers (that is a part of the Michigan one, I will attest.)
and people with bribe money or monetary influence.
Whoa. Pleasant on the eyes......
I’ve come to the conclusion that PA sucks.
It’s just proximity to NJ, DE, MD, and NY that makes it seem okay.
Not fat, smiling, and actually needs to sit down to pee.
Seems like that is asking too much nowadays.
The world has gone mad.
She’s only 34. That’s pretty impressive to be SecHealth at her age.
I’ve tried to find out how to schedule an appointment. Rite Aid pharmacies are shown on the PA Health Department’s website as a pharmacy that provides vaccinations. I checked the local Rite Aid designated on the government website as one of the places to schedule an appointment.
Nope, says my local Rite Aid. We can’t schedule anybody. We’re doing this as a courtesy only, she said. And she handed me the State’s hotline number to find out how to schedule an appointment. You’re supposed to schedule online she said. Rite Aid can’t do anything. The State website said to contact Rite Aid to schedule an appointment. The Rite Aid clerk said the government website is “out of date.”
I have no idea how to schedule an appointment. I’m in one of the currently eligible groups, supposedly. More than likely, the vaccine will be distributed to a minority, 20 year-old, grocery store clerk before I would ever get anything.
This is an example of the typical incompetence of Democrat government. Pennsylvania’s idiot governor is as culpable as Cuomo in the deaths of elderly. His health secretary was Rachel Levine. She put COVID-contaminated individuals in nursing homes where they spread the virus and killed many of the inmates. Wolf and his administration are now fouling up the vaccination process thus likely leading to the deaths of more elderly. He should be impeached and removed from office.
With absolutely no experience in health care other than being a patient.
Yeah, impressive...
We’ll probably find out she’s been “really helpful” to someone important.
“Where’s Willie?”
True. A world gone mad. We all survived more than a year of this COVID flu, ( 0.029 percent did not) , the Covid flu season is almost over. We will all survive the next year, regardless of what some 34 year old Senile Joe appointee would have you believe. If I was a betting man, I would bet the pharma companies will soon be losing $billions in unused, untested, unwanted experimental vaccines....that said, those interested can have mine, my families, and most (1 wants the concoction) of my coworkers vaccine.
I’m very fit with zero comorbidities.
I will not be taking anything.
Cost/benefit analysis complete...
The company I work for ( critical industry they say) had everyone interested in the experimental vaccines sign up weeks ago so they could acquire “ enough for everyone “...guess what, virtually no one signed up and now the “ vaccination day” has been put on hold. If it was up to me, you could have ours, we are very grateful for the experimental human lab mice “ stepping up”.
She’s a lawyer and not a doctor so don’t get too excited. A career bureaucrat
I’m just happy the plumbing is right, that’s all.
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