GET IT RIGHT AWAY. >> THE STATE VACCINE PLAN IS DETAILED. IT IS 52 PAGES LON WILL BE GIVEN THE VACCINE COMING IN WHAT ORDER, AND HOW THIS CHART PROVIDED BY THE STATE BREAKS DOWN HOW EACH PERSON WILL BE OFFERED A COVID-19 VACCINATION BASED ON WHERE THEY FALL FROM PHASE 1, HEALTH CARE WORKERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THOSE IN LONG TERM CARE, TO WHICH INCLUDES THOSE IN DORMS, CHILD CARE WORKERS AND PEOPL BETWEEN THE AGE OF 40-64. ONCE THOSE GROUPS ARE VACCINATED, ONLY THEN CAN EVERYONE ELSE BE. >> THERE ARE CHALLENGES. WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO IMMUNIZE EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN PENNSYLVANIA. THINK ABOUT THAT THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. >> HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA, THIS IS WHAT OFFICIALS EXPECT A MASS VACCINATION WILL LOOK LIKE. THEIR CHART SHOWS 10 VACCINATORS IN THE CENTER, 3 OF THEM PEDIATRIC. THERE IS ALSO A TRIAGE AREA, A SPOT WHERE DATA WILL BE RECORDED SINCE FIVE OF THE 6 EXPECTED VACCINES REQUIRE 2 DOSES AND AN ORGANIZED EXIT. DR. RACHEL LEVINE SAYS THE VACCINE SUPPLY WILL BE LIMITED AT FIRST SO THE STATES TASK FORCE WILL DETERMINE HOW MUCH TO GIVE PROVIDERS IN EACH COMMUNITY . THE STATE’S PLAN SAYS THOSE DECISIONS WILL BE BASED ON POPLULATION USING GIS MAPPING, CENSUS DATA, AND THOSE MOST AFFECTED BY THE OUTBREAK. DR. LEVINE SAYS THIS COULD START TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT MONTH, WHEN THE SECRETARY BELIEVES AT LEAST ONE POSSIBLY TWO OF THE VACCINES COULD BE AVAILABLE. >> THEY SAY THESE MIGHT BE 90%EFFECTIVE, WE’LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THESE WORK IN THE FIELD, BUT THEY’RE NOT 100% EFFECTIVE SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE MASKS AND HANDWASHING ETC. IT IS GOING TO TAKE TIME TO ROLL ALL THIS OUT AND THEN WE HAVE TO GET PAST VACCINE HESITANCY. >> IF YOU WANT A MORE DETAIL LOOK AT THE STATE’S PLAN INCLUDING WHO FITS IN
Pennsylvania health secretary discusses plans for COVID-19 vaccinations
Updated: 6:11 PM EST Nov 19, 2020
Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine discussed plans for COVID-19 vaccinations in the commonwealth Thursday afternoon.The state's plan includes a flow chart on how a mass vaccination would work. It includes 10 vaccinators, three of them pediatric. It also has a location for data recorders, since five of the six vaccines expected require two doses.Watch the full news conference from Dr. Levine in the video player above. "There are challenges," said Levine. "We are going to try to immunize every single person eventually in Pennsylvania. Think about that throughout the entire United States."Levine said the supply would be limited at first, so the state's task force will determine how much to give providers in each community. According to the state's 52-page plan, the decision will be based on population using GIS mapping, census data and those most affected by the outbreak."We don't know how quickly the vaccine supply will meet the demand," said Levine. "It's important to remember when the vaccine becomes available it will not be a cure, or certainly not an immediate cure, or an end to the coronavirus pandemic." While Levine said one, possibly two, vaccines could be available next month, she said we may still be wearing masks for the next year. Levine called the vaccines exciting, but said their availability is only the beginning."They say that these might be 90% effective. We'll have to see how these work in the field, but they're not 100% effective, so we're going to have to have masks and hand-washing, etc. It's going to take time to roll all of this out, and then we have to get past vaccine hesitancy."Click here to read the 52 page plan from the state.
Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine discussed plans for COVID-19 vaccinations in the commonwealth Thursday afternoon.
The state's plan includes a flow chart on how a mass vaccination would work. It includes 10 vaccinators, three of them pediatric. It also has a location for data recorders, since five of the six vaccines expected require two doses.
Watch the full news conference from Dr. Levine in the video player above.
"There are challenges," said Levine. "We are going to try to immunize every single person eventually in Pennsylvania. Think about that throughout the entire United States."
Levine said the supply would be limited at first, so the state's task force will determine how much to give providers in each community. According to the state's 52-page plan, the decision will be based on population using GIS mapping, census data and those most affected by the outbreak.
"We don't know how quickly the vaccine supply will meet the demand," said Levine. "It's important to remember when the vaccine becomes available it will not be a cure, or certainly not an immediate cure, or an end to the coronavirus pandemic."
While Levine said one, possibly two, vaccines could be available next month, she said we may still be wearing masks for the next year. Levine called the vaccines exciting, but said their availability is only the beginning.
"They say that these might be 90% effective. We'll have to see how these work in the field, but they're not 100% effective, so we're going to have to have masks and hand-washing, etc. It's going to take time to roll all of this out, and then we have to get past vaccine hesitancy."
Click here to read the 52 page plan from the state.