Earlier today, Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam issued an Order directed to COVID-19 vaccine providers across Pennsylvania. The Order covers:
COVID-19 Vaccine Administration
Vaccine providers must administer in line with who is eligible according to the current phase of Pennsylvania’s Interim Vaccination Plan. At this time, we are still in Phase 1A. Failing to comply with this and necessary reporting requirements can result in action against a vaccine provider. Vaccine providers will also be required to administer a percentage of first vaccine doses within seven days of receiving those doses and make every effort to schedule people for their second dose at the initial visit. This is effective immediately.
Vaccine Appointment Scheduling
To ease challenges with scheduling vaccine appointments, vaccine providers must have a phone-based registration available to register. Phone lines should be staffed by a live person who can assist with scheduling if a caller is unable to register online rather than automatically directing callers to a website. This phone number will be reported on the Department of Health’s vaccine provider map. This requirement will take effect on February 19, 2021.
Vaccine Data Reporting
The Order reinforces Pennsylvania’s commitment to upholding equity in our vaccination process. Providers are required to report race and ethnicity data for vaccine recipients to the Department of Health as directed in December. This should be reported within 24 hours of administration.
Accountability
An effective and efficient vaccination process requires collaboration and cooperation between all levels of government, vaccine providers and the health care system at large, and the public we serve. We are all united in the fight against COVID-19, and we must work together to follow Pennsylvania’s Interim Vaccination Plan as well as this and other Orders from the Department of Health. Vaccine providers that do not comply with the Order may see reduced or suspected first dose allocations beginning February 22, 2021.
The full Order is available online here. For more information on the COVID-19 vaccination process, visit www.doh.pa.gov.
Thank you for all you do to help in our fight against COVID-19. Please continue to mask up, stay at home when you can, and stay safe.
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