Allegheny County received approximately 7,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine Monday for its clinics after last week’s allotment of doses did not arrive on time.The county said it will still need to make adjustments to its plan for the scheduling of second doses based on supply for individuals who received their first doses from the Health Department.Of the approximately 7,000 doses, there are 4,700 designated as first doses and 2,300 designated as second doses, the county said.The late arrival caused the Health Department to postpone second shots for some patients who received their first dose at the county’s Monroeville clinic. The county said emails will be sent Monday to individuals who received their first doses at the Monroeville vaccination clinic between Jan. 27 and Jan. 30 and are due for their second doses between Feb. 24 and Feb. 27 that contain second dose registration links. Those individuals will be vaccinated on Wednesday through Saturday at the Monroeville site.The links sent are for second doses only, and the doses available through these links have been set aside to fulfill second dose needsIf an individual is due for their second dose between Feb. 24 and Feb. 27 at the Monroeville vaccination clinic and did not receive an email containing links, they should call 2-1-1 to register for their appointment by phone. Additional clinics for other Phase 1A healthcare and frontline staff that were scheduled for this week have not yet been rescheduled. As noted previously, those healthcare workers and frontline staff will receive their second dose within the CDC-recommended guidance of up to 6 weeks after the first dose. Individuals who received their first doses at the Monroeville vaccination clinic between Feb. 1 and Feb. 6 will receive an email by the end of this week with additional information regarding their appointments. While those appointments may not be available on the 28thday, all individuals will receive their second dose within the CDC-recommended guidance of up to 6 weeks after the first dose. There will be limited first dose appointments available at the Castle Shannon site for individuals 65 and older only beginning Tuesday through Friday. Online links will be made available later on Monday through Allegheny Alerts and will also be posted on ACHD’s vaccine page at https://alleghenycounty.us/COVIDvaccine. Appointments for individuals who do not have access to the internet may be made through 2-1-1 beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 23.All appointments are for the Castle Shannon VFD Banquet Hall at 3600 Library Road. Appointments are required. There is no on-site registration or walk-up appointments. Any person arriving at the site without an appointment, or who is not 65 and older, will be turned away.Again, this announcement affects only individuals who received their vaccines through ACHD and not individuals who received their vaccines through other providers. The state has assured providers that the appropriate supply of doses will be available. Individuals who need to schedule their second dose should work with the provider or location where they received the first dose. Requests for a second dose cannot be accommodated by other providers. The health department will continue to schedule the second vaccine in the series for individuals who received their first vaccine from an ACHD clinic. While the recent announcement by the state may mean that there may be some delay in when the second vaccine is administered, these potential changes remain in line with guidance from the CDC which recommends that vaccines may be administered up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose. It is important to note that there is no difference between a first and second dose of the vaccine. While the language that has been used to talk about the vaccine series has referred to “first shot” and “second shot,” these vaccinations are identical. A person who receives a “second shot” was given the exact same thing as a person who received a “first shot.” It is the same vaccine, in the same way, provided both times. The reference to first or second pertains to supply chain management. It does not reflect different medications or anything else that would impact the health of a person being vaccinated. When applied to an individual, it simply indicates whether it’s that person’s first or second shot in the series. Again, they are identical. Anyone with questions regarding COVID-19, the vaccine or scheduling their second dose should call 2-1-1 for more information and to be connected to available resources.
PITTSBURGH —
Allegheny County received approximately 7,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine Monday for its clinics after last week’s allotment of doses did not arrive on time.
The county said it will still need to make adjustments to its plan for the scheduling of second doses based on supply for individuals who received their first doses from the Health Department.
Of the approximately 7,000 doses, there are 4,700 designated as first doses and 2,300 designated as second doses, the county said.
The late arrival caused the Health Department to postpone second shots for some patients who received their first dose at the county’s Monroeville clinic.
The county said emails will be sent Monday to individuals who received their first doses at the Monroeville vaccination clinic between Jan. 27 and Jan. 30 and are due for their second doses between Feb. 24 and Feb. 27 that contain second dose registration links. Those individuals will be vaccinated on Wednesday through Saturday at the Monroeville site.
The links sent are for second doses only, and the doses available through these links have been set aside to fulfill second dose needs
If an individual is due for their second dose between Feb. 24 and Feb. 27 at the Monroeville vaccination clinic and did not receive an email containing links, they should call 2-1-1 to register for their appointment by phone.
Additional clinics for other Phase 1A healthcare and frontline staff that were scheduled for this week have not yet been rescheduled. As noted previously, those healthcare workers and frontline staff will receive their second dose within the CDC-recommended guidance of up to 6 weeks after the first dose.
Individuals who received their first doses at the Monroeville vaccination clinic between Feb. 1 and Feb. 6 will receive an email by the end of this week with additional information regarding their appointments. While those appointments may not be available on the 28thday, all individuals will receive their second dose within the CDC-recommended guidance of up to 6 weeks after the first dose.
There will be limited first dose appointments available at the Castle Shannon site for individuals 65 and older only beginning Tuesday through Friday. Online links will be made available later on Monday through Allegheny Alerts and will also be posted on ACHD’s vaccine page at https://alleghenycounty.us/COVIDvaccine. Appointments for individuals who do not have access to the internet may be made through 2-1-1 beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 23.
All appointments are for the Castle Shannon VFD Banquet Hall at 3600 Library Road. Appointments are required. There is no on-site registration or walk-up appointments. Any person arriving at the site without an appointment, or who is not 65 and older, will be turned away.
Again, this announcement affects only individuals who received their vaccines through ACHD and not individuals who received their vaccines through other providers. The state has assured providers that the appropriate supply of doses will be available. Individuals who need to schedule their second dose should work with the provider or location where they received the first dose. Requests for a second dose cannot be accommodated by other providers.
The health department will continue to schedule the second vaccine in the series for individuals who received their first vaccine from an ACHD clinic. While the recent announcement by the state may mean that there may be some delay in when the second vaccine is administered, these potential changes remain in line with guidance from the CDC which recommends that vaccines may be administered up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose.
It is important to note that there is no difference between a first and second dose of the vaccine. While the language that has been used to talk about the vaccine series has referred to “first shot” and “second shot,” these vaccinations are identical. A person who receives a “second shot” was given the exact same thing as a person who received a “first shot.” It is the same vaccine, in the same way, provided both times.
The reference to first or second pertains to supply chain management. It does not reflect different medications or anything else that would impact the health of a person being vaccinated. When applied to an individual, it simply indicates whether it’s that person’s first or second shot in the series. Again, they are identical.
Anyone with questions regarding COVID-19, the vaccine or scheduling their second dose should call 2-1-1 for more information and to be connected to available resources.