PA Readies For COVID Booster Shots: When They Could Be Available

PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania will be ready to distribute COVID-19 vaccine booster shots as soon as federal guidance is issued from the Centers for Disease Control, state officials at the Department of Health announced Tuesday.

It is still not yet known how long after the second dose a resident should get their booster shot, with estimates ranging anywhere from six to eight months. Regardless of precisely when, the state is "well-prepared," Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said.

“Vaccine providers — especially pharmacies — have already done a tremendous job administering more than 12 million vaccines across the state," Beam said in an announcement Tuesday. "Now they are ready to get booster shots to people as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices plans to meet on Sept. 22 and Sept. 23 to discuss boosters and formulate their guidance. Officials in other states have said they expect the formal guidance to come out as soon as Sept. 24.

Should the roughly six-month timeline hold true, millions of Pennsylvanians who received their last shot earlier in the year could very soon become eligible for a booster shot.

Only the two-dose Pfizer vaccine is being officially vetted by federal officials for potential boosters, but said the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson will likely be approved soon.

There are more than 2,000 providers statewide, including hospitals, health systems, federally qualified health centers, pharmacies, physician practices, and local health departments, who have been ordered to prepare for the boosters.

Specifically, the Department of Health has ordered providers to make both online scheduling and walk-in appointments available. Providers are also working directly with state officials at the Area Agencies on Aging and Medical Assistance Managed Care Organizations to help schedule appointments for those who cannot leave their homes.