An orderly, planned distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine is a priority of the Wolf administration and today Governor Tom Wolf and the Minister of Health, Dr. Rachel Levine, shared an update on the vaccine and stressed its safety and efficacy.
They joined a press conference for an update of COVID-19 by the Director of Testing and Contact Tracing for the State, Michael Huff; and dr. Cynthia Chuang, Head of the Department of General Internal Medicine at Penn State Health Medical Center Milton S. Hershey.
“I’m here to tell you that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe to use, and very good at protecting people who are being vaccinated,” Governor Wolf said. ‘If you hear a rumor about COVID-19 from a friend or see something online about you, take a few minutes to verify the information before you get too worried. Five minutes of fact checking can make you and your loved ones very worried. ”
Dr. Levine provided an update on the number of vaccines distributed by the federal government in the Commonwealth. The number reaches one million because the state is in its fifth week after receiving the vaccine.
“Our mission to immunize any Pennsylvania resident who wants a vaccine continues,” said Dr. Levine said. ‘The Federal Pharmacy Partnership has vaccination clinics at 159 skilled nursing homes this week. Vaccine providers administered vaccines to a total of 311,477 people, including 251,133 people who received their first dose, and 30,172 who received two doses and are considered fully vaccinated. ”
Information on the vaccine, including the state’s vaccination plan, COVID-19 vaccine panel, a map of vaccine providers and data on vaccine distribution can be found here.
Dr. Chuang discussed the safety of the vaccine from the perspective of a physician involved in vaccinating health workers, dispelling myths such as that the vaccine may not be safe because it was developed so quickly.
“Strict clinical trials have shown that the COVID vaccines are highly effective and safe,” said Dr. Cynthia Chuang, head of the Department of General Internal Medicine at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, said. “I look forward to when my patients can be offered the vaccine.”
Dir. Huff gave an update on state testing, saying: ‘Robust COVID-19 testing continues in Pennsylvania. To date, nearly 9 million test results have been received in Pennsylvania. Our COVID-19 test provider continues to offer regional tests in five provinces every week, as well as on our more than 900 test areas throughout the Commonwealth. ”
Last week, the regional test sites were in Crawford, Dauphin, Lehigh, Somerset and the counties of Union, and about 6,700 individuals were tested. This week the regional test works are in the counties of Bradford, Clarion, Fulton, Lancaster and Pike and will conclude on Saturday.
“You can always find accurate, up-to-date information on testing, vaccine safety and distribution on the Pennsylvania Department of Health website,” Governor Wolf said. ‘Or through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“COVID-19 vaccines are an important tool in our fight against COVID-19, but they will only be an effective tool if Pennsylvanias are vaccinated, and we need to be vaccinated because these vaccines are safe and effective.”