PITTSBURGH — Since the beginning of the pandemic, grocery store workers have been stocking shelves and ringing up customers. Now, they’re anxiously waiting for their turn to get the COVID-19 vaccine. With the state’s changes to the distribution plan, however, they’ll have to keep patient longer.
“It was a learning curve for us and some of our customers were hesitant to come in the store for the peak of the virus,” said Leonard Labriola, manager of Labriola’s Italian Markets. “We try to safeguard everything but it’s a risk we have to take to carry on the legacy.”
Labriola is the third generation to work in his family’s stores. Grocery store workers are next in line to get the COVID-19 vaccine, but nobody knows when that will be in Pennsylvania. First responders fall into the same group and the Wexford Volunteer Fire Department is also anxiously waiting.
“It’s very discouraging for us, because not only are we putting ourselves at risk, but our families at risk too. As we’re all volunteers, we have to go home after the calls to service we receive,” said Fire Chief Chris Ausefski.
Ausefski said his department has been no stranger to outbreaks. Fortunately, Allegheny Health Network had extra doses available and half of the fire department was able to get vaccinated.
The Allegheny County Health Department said that unfortunately, people in Phase 1B and 1C will have to have to wait even longer to get the vaccine. The state’s expansion of Phase 1A to include anyone aged 65 and up, and people aged 16 to 64 with serious health conditions accounts for about a third of the state’s population.
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