January 15, 2021-William J. Zee, Esq.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has developed the COVID-19 Interim Vaccination Plan to inform Pennsylvanians about the plan for vaccination in Pennsylvania. This plan follows the blueprint set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding a COVID-19 Vaccination Plan. This is an interim plan which is being continuously updated to reflect the latest recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and other guidance available and feedback received.

Pennsylvania’s Approach for Phase 1A:

DOH is adopting the ACIP recommendation that healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents should be offered vaccination in the initial phase. Because the long-term care facility (LTCF) staff and residents will be vaccinated as part of the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program, health systems in Pennsylvania will focus on the remaining health care personnel in Phase 1A. “Health care personnel” are defined by ACIP as paid and unpaid persons serving in health care settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials. These health care personnel may include, but are not limited to, emergency medical service personnel, nurses, nursing assistants, physicians, technicians, therapists, phlebotomists, pharmacists, students and trainees, direct support professionals, clinical personnel in schools settings or correctional facilities, contractual staff not employed by the health care facility, and persons (e.g., clerical, dietary, environmental services, laundry, security, maintenance, engineering and facilities management, administrative, billing, and volunteer personnel) not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to infectious agents that can be transmitted among from healthcare personnel and patients.