PA Vaccinates Medical Workers Against COVID-19

David Wenner pennlive.com (MCT) As of early Monday, 17,700 health care workers in Pennsylvania have received COVID-19 vaccine, with tens of thousands more expected to receive it this week, state Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. So far, 87 hospitals have received vaccine, and they continue to vaccinate doctors, nurses and others who work directly with COVID-19 patients, along with certain other frontline workers such as ambulance crew members. Staff and high-risk residents of long-term care facilities including nursing homes will begin getting vaccine next week. Pennsylvania expects about 98,000 doses of the initial Pfizer vaccine, which was the first of two that received emergency approval for use. Philadelphia is getting a separate allocation of 15,000 does. Pfizer’s vaccine requires two doses, given three weeks apart, for the vaccine to become fully effective, although doctors say recipients gain partial immunity within days of the first dose. The federal government is holding back enough doses to provide each recipient with a second dose. Also this week, Pennsylvania expects to receive about 30,000 of Moderna vaccine, which is the second to receive emergency approval, according to Levine. The Moderna vaccine also requires two doses, with the government holding holding back second doses. Pennsylvania is expected a total of 198,000 doses in the initial di...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Coronavirus News News Feed EMS EMT Hospital Paramedic Pennsylvania Source Type: news