Philly Keeping Own Vaccine Timeline Despite State's Plan

PHILADELPHIA — The Pennsylvania Department of Health Wednesday announced it is planning to open up coronavirus vaccinations to all residents in mid-April. But even with the announcement, Philadelphia is sticking to its own timeline.

State officials announced a sped-up vaccination timeline, saying doses will become available to all residents by April 19.

According to the state, several individuals in the 1B category becoming eligible on March 31, as previously announced, and the rest of 1B will be eligible on April 5. People in 1C will be eligible on April 12 then April 19 will open vaccination to all residents, officials said.

Despite the state's announcement, Philadelphia health officials said the city is keeping its own timeline for vaccine rollout.

Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley Tuesday said the city will enter Phase 2 no later than May 1, with Phase 1C vaccinations beginning in April.

The city is still working through the 1B phase of vaccination.

"We are still on track to move to Philadelphia to Phase 1c sometime in April, and to Phase 2 (all adults) on May 1," Health Department Communications Director James Garrow told Patch.

According to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, 256,932 people are partially vaccinated in Philadelphia and 266,921 are fully vaccinated.

Farley Tuesday said the week ending March 28 saw 111,000 doses administered across the city.

The Center City Vaccination Center in the Pennsylvania Convention Center has been vaccinating thousands of people daily. Another FEMA-run vaccination site is planned to open in North Philadelphia soon and will seek to vaccinate 1,000 people daily.

In total, the city has 226 sites — such as neighborhood clinics, pharmacies, healthcare systems, and more — offering vaccines.