Healthcare systems warning people to expect delay for COVID-19 vaccine after state expands distribution

Whether walking the neighborhood with your family or speaking to them on the phone, there was renewed optimism after Tuesday’s announcement of a significant expansion of those eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Pennsylvania, but that optimism is turning to frustration quickly as finding a vaccine has become very difficult.

“I was very excited because I’m worried about my parent’s health,” Mohammad Alfrifai said.

Alfrifai said he was elated by yesterday’s unexpected news that millions of Pennsylvanians 65 and older, and those with serious medical conditions, would be added to Phase 1a of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Healthcare systems: expect delay for COVID-19 vaccine

It turns out the news also was unexpected for the health care systems responsible for administering the drug.

“We really didn’t have any forewarning that it was going to happen when it did,” said Dr. Carol Fox, chief medical officer for Excela Health.

Since that announcement by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Excela Health has been inundated with phone calls from people looking to get the vaccine. They are requests Fox said simply cannot be fulfilled at this point.

“We don’t have vaccine in-house today to address that need, so we have to get it first,” she said.

The largest medical system in the region, UPMC, is facing a similar problem.

“I am certain we can meet the demand if the vaccine comes, it just hasn’t come yet,” said Dr. Don Yealy, chairman of UPMC Emergency Medicine. “Yesterday’s announcement is an important first step, but it doesn’t solve the problem of getting vaccine to the sites that can deliver it.”

UPMC and Excela said they are focused on vaccinating the remaining health care workers before moving on to the expanded list, which likely won’t happen until at least early February.

“I was very, very frustrated to hear that even the top hospitals were not aware of this new policy or were not prepared,” Alrifai said. “They didn’t have the vaccine. How come they didn’t have any vaccine?”

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has pointed to its website to help connect people with an appointment to get the vaccine. It lists dozens of providers in western Pennsylvania administering the drug.

The problem is supplies are low, and what little is available is prioritized for the original group in Phase 1a—health care workers and nursing home residents.

There are now 3.5 million Pennsylvanians in Phase 1a. While it could be weeks before many of those people can get vaccinated, health experts agree timing is all dependent on the vaccine’s supply, which right now is lacking.

Local, state leaders working to get COVID-19 vaccine to members of Black community

Cox Media Group