THE STATE’S ACTING HEALTH SECRETARY SIGNGNI A NEW ORDER TODAY TO PREPARE FOR COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOTS RFO PENNSYLVANIANS. SHE SAID SHE WANTS VACCINE PROVIDERS TO START ADMINISTERING COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOTS JUST AS SOON AS THE CDC ISSUES THE NECESSARY FEDERAL GUIDELINES. THAT MEANS RIGHT NOW VACCINE PROVIDERS NEED TO PROVIDE ONLINE SCHEDULING FOR VACCINATION APPOINTMENTS. THEY ALSO HAVE TO PROVIDE A PHONE NUMBER WHICH WILL DIRECT PENNSYLVANIANS TO A LIVE AGENT TO HELP WITH SCHEDULING. WALK-IN APPOINTMENTS NEED TO BE AVAILABLE AS WELL, AND THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO CATREE A PLAN TO HELP GET ELIGIBLE ADULTSND A ANYONE WHO CAN’T LEAVE THEIR HOMES BOOSTER SHOTS. THE STATE HOPES PEOE,PL PARTICULARLY THOSE 65 AND OLDER WITH COMPROMISED IMMEUN SYSTEMS WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE BOOSTER SHOTS. PEOPLE SUCH AS EDWARDNE SED. REPORTER: EDWARD WANTS TO BE PROTECTED IN THE BATTLE AGAINST COVID-19. >> I AM STILL GOING TO GET THE BOOSRTE SHOT. MIKE C: HE KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT BEING BATTLE TESTED. THE RETIRED U.S. ARMY VETERAN FROM NORTH BRADDOCK RECEIVED HIS FIRST TWO DOSES IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY AND TELLS US HE WILL GET THE OSBOTER SHOT WHENEVER IT BECOMES AVAILABLE DOING WHATEVER HE CAN HE SAYS TO KEEP HIM AND OTRSHE SE.AF >> LIKE I SAID, WHEN I AM IN A CROW ID, MASK UP. I HAVE GOT MY SHOTS. IF THEY HAVE GOT MORE TO GIVE, I AM GOING TO GET THOSE, TOO. MIKE C: HE’S GRATEFUL FORHE T EXCELLENT CARE AND INFORMATION HE GETS FROM THE V.A. >> LOTS OF PEPOPLE DON’T HAVE THAT OPTION OR OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT TYPE IOFNFORMATION . THAT’S WHY IAY S, YOU SHOULD GO TO YOUR DOCTOR. MIKE C: STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY HE IS EON OF THE PEOPLE WHO THEY WANT TO SEE RECEIVE THAT THIRD SH.OT >> THE THIRD DOSE IS FOR PPLEOE WHO ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT MOUNT THE FULL IMMUNE RESPONSE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE WOULD HAVE. THAT’S WHY THAT DOSE IS AUTHORIZED FOR THEM AS A TRDHI DOSE TO GET THEM UP TO THE IMMUNITY THAT MOST OTHER PEOPLE WOULD HAVE. MIKE C: ED SAYS BECAUSE OFIS H UNDERLYING HEALTH CONCERNS, HE’S AVOIDED CROWDS FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS NOW. HE HOPES OTHERS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY OF GETTING THAT EXTRA PROTECTION AGAINST A VIRUS THAT HAS CLAIMED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES. >> SO GETTING A VACCINE SHOT IS THE BEST WAY TO KEEP FROM DYING , OR GETTING REALLY SICK, OR ANYTHING. MIKE C: THE HETHAL DEPARTMENT, ONCE AGAIN STRESSING THE NEED FOR EVERYONTOE GET VACCINATED, SAYING THAT SINCE JANUA,RY AT 7% OF COVID-RELATED T
Official: Pennsylvania ‘well prepared’ for COVID-19 vaccine boosters
Updated: 11:28 PM EDT Sep 21, 2021
Pennsylvania’s network of vaccine providers is ready to deliver booster shots of the coronavirus vaccine as soon as federal authorities sign off, the state’s top health official said Tuesday.Watch the vaccine news conference: Click the video player above.More than 2,000 providers have COVID-19 vaccine inventory and will be able to administer the extra doses to people who are eligible, while continuing to offer initial vaccinations against the coronavirus, according to the state Health Department.“Vaccine providers are well prepared to start administering booster shoots as soon as the CDC gives final approval and issues guidance later this week,” Alison Beam, the acting health secretary, said Tuesday at a pharmacy in Hershey.A panel of outside experts who advise the Food and Drug Administration has recommended extra Pfizer vaccine doses for people aged 65 or older and those who are at heightened risk from COVID-19. The FDA still has to weigh in, as does the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Anticipating approvals, Beam ordered providers to offer online vaccination appointments as well as live telephone support, serve walk-ins where possible and work with agencies to help get boosters to people who can’t leave their homes.In Pennsylvania, more than 1 million people aged 65 and over are fully vaccinated with the Pfizer shot, according to CDC data. Moderna also has asked the FDA to allow a booster dose of its vaccine. And on Tuesday, Johnson & Johnson said a booster of its vaccine enhanced protection against COVID-19. The results of its study have not been published.The Biden administration had proposed giving extra Pfizer shots to all Americans eight months after they get their second dose, but the FDA advisory panel rejected that plan, citing a lack of safety data and questioning the need for extra doses across the board. The preparations for booster shots come as Pennsylvania tries to coax more people to get vaccinated. Nearly 66% of the state’s 12-and-older population are considered fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.Dr. Denise Johnson, the state’s acting physician general, cited the daily coronavirus statistics in pushing Pennsylvanians to get the shot: Nearly 5,000 new, confirmed infections, nearly 2,400 people in the hospital, and 68 “preventable” deaths attributed to COVID-19.”Millions of Pennsylvanians who are eligible have not yet taken that step to get themselves vaccinated,” Johnson said at the news conference in Hershey. “And that is what is causing our current surge.”
HERSHEY, Pa. (AP) —
Pennsylvania’s network of vaccine providers is ready to deliver booster shots of the coronavirus vaccine as soon as federal authorities sign off, the state’s top health official said Tuesday.
Watch the vaccine news conference: Click the video player above.
More than 2,000 providers have COVID-19 vaccine inventory and will be able to administer the extra doses to people who are eligible, while continuing to offer initial vaccinations against the coronavirus, according to the state Health Department.
“Vaccine providers are well prepared to start administering booster shoots as soon as the CDC gives final approval and issues guidance later this week,” Alison Beam, the acting health secretary, said Tuesday at a pharmacy in Hershey.
A panel of outside experts who advise the Food and Drug Administration has recommended extra Pfizer vaccine doses for people aged 65 or older and those who are at heightened risk from COVID-19. The FDA still has to weigh in, as does the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Anticipating approvals, Beam ordered providers to offer online vaccination appointments as well as live telephone support, serve walk-ins where possible and work with agencies to help get boosters to people who can’t leave their homes.
In Pennsylvania, more than 1 million people aged 65 and over are fully vaccinated with the Pfizer shot, according to CDC data.
Moderna also has asked the FDA to allow a booster dose of its vaccine. And on Tuesday, Johnson & Johnson said a booster of its vaccine enhanced protection against COVID-19. The results of its study have not been published.
The Biden administration had proposed giving extra Pfizer shots to all Americans eight months after they get their second dose, but the FDA advisory panel rejected that plan, citing a lack of safety data and questioning the need for extra doses across the board.
The preparations for booster shots come as Pennsylvania tries to coax more people to get vaccinated. Nearly 66% of the state’s 12-and-older population are considered fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.
Dr. Denise Johnson, the state’s acting physician general, cited the daily coronavirus statistics in pushing Pennsylvanians to get the shot: Nearly 5,000 new, confirmed infections, nearly 2,400 people in the hospital, and 68 “preventable” deaths attributed to COVID-19.
“Millions of Pennsylvanians who are eligible have not yet taken that step to get themselves vaccinated,” Johnson said at the news conference in Hershey. “And that is what is causing our current surge.”