Philadelphia expands Phase 1B qualifications for COVID-19 vaccine

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) – The Philadelphia Health Commissioner announced at a news conference during a news conference on Friday morning a small extension for eligible Group 1B vaccine.

Dr Thomas Farley said the high-risk category now includes people with intellectual disabilities and that the definition of immunosuppression is being extended to those who use drugs to suppress the immune system “for any cause.”

Farley also said that members of the clergy are now being added to Phase 1B.

“With the restart of services, members of the clergy are at high risk of contracting or transmitting the COVID infection, especially of transmitting it to people who are elderly,” Farley said.

As of Thursday, 402,000 first doses and 156,000 second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been administered across the city.

Farley said the supply of vaccinations has flattened doses. The city has seen increases, but government officials have said they will not receive Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for the next three weeks.