2 Delaware County Hospitals Get Coronavirus Vaccine

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — Two hospitals in Delaware County will be the first in the county to get doses of the coronavirus vaccine.

According to the Wolf Administration, as of noon Monday 22 more hospitals have received 30,255 does of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and will begin distributing it to health care workers as outlined in the state’s interim vaccine distribution plan.

In Delaware County, Crozer Hospital in Upland and Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Drexel Hill have received doses.

Nearby, Lankeanu Medical Center in Wynnewood got doses of the vaccine, as well.

With the 22 more hospitals being given vaccine doses, a total of 109 hospitals in the state have gotten the vaccine.

"Each day, hospitals will be shipped vaccine directly from Pfizer and will begin administering it to health care workers at the hospital," Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. "The hospitals receiving shipments enrolled to be COVID-19 vaccine providers. The federal government has determined the amount of vaccine and when the vaccine is distributed. Hospitals receiving the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine must be able to handle the ultra-low temperature storage requirements."

In addition, Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine is due to be received by to at least 51 hospitals throughout the state this week.

"More hospital sites will receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine over the next several weeks. Hospital sites are selected by their ability to manage the cold chain requirement with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, completion of the COVID-19 provider agreement, and successful onboarding with the Department of Health for necessary documentation of vaccination. The number of doses, recipient hospitals and arrival dates are subject to change based on updated information from the federal government and Pfizer

"These first doses of vaccine are being given specifically to health care workers through hospitals," Levine said. "Hospitals are making arrangements to implement these vaccinations, not only to their own frontline staff but to other high-priority recipients. The number of people we can immunize truly depends on how quickly the manufacturers can make the vaccine."

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration on Friday, Dec. 11, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) approved its use on Dec. 13.

The vaccine will be available in three phases, beginning with critical populations. Due to the limited supply of vaccine, the first phase is expected to take several months. Initial administration of doses will be according to the ACIP recommendations of vaccine administration to health care workers, residents and staff in long term care facilities.

In the second phase, the department anticipates more vaccine doses will be available. This will allow vaccination of essential workers who cannot work remotely and must work in proximity to others. The third phase is vaccinating all persons of any age not previously vaccinated, once the department has a sufficient supply of vaccine. In this phase, the entire population will have access to a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine.