Vaccinations In Chester County: 5 FAQs Answered

WEST CHESTER, PA — As Chester County residents attempted this week to register for a COVID-19 vaccine and to find out where to go, another 5,000 doses of the vaccine were given. There are many questions, and the answer is mostly: wait.

As of Jan. 22, 13,864 vaccine doses had been administered in Chester County. Just over 5,00o doses were given in the week between Jan. 15-22. Of those, 2,186 were second doses, and 2,893 were first doses, according to Chester County Health Department data.

The county's plan for vaccination is still in the Phase 1A category, but that category grew by 90,000 people when the Pennsylvania Department of Health recently added people over 65 and those ages 16-64 with a health condition.

Residents have been asked to pre-register and wait until supplies of the vaccine arrive, but how to register and where to get their vaccine once available is not clear to many in Chester County, based on inquiries on Patch and across digital media.

Here are answers to five questions frequently asked, with answers as provided by Chester County.

How do I make an appointment for a vaccination?

You need to register to be contacted when a COVID-19 vaccine appointment is available through Chester County Health Department. You should fill out the online form. After you do that, you will receive updates from Chester County on vaccine availability and open appointments. You can also visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccine page to see a map of other vaccine providers in our area and contact information for them.

How can I make an appointment if I don't have access to a computer?

Another person can make an appointment for you if you have friends or family with online access. An option for appointments by phone will be made available as vaccine supplies come in and the county has caught up with vaccinating the 1A group and is able to open more appointments.

After completing the online form, when will I get vaccinated?

The Chester County Health Department receives shipments of vaccine each week and adds appointments as the vaccine shipment is confirmed to make sure that there is enough vaccine for everyone scheduled. Because the available supply of vaccines is smaller than the number waiting, the county said it cannot set a timeframe for vaccinations. The county has said, "We ask for patience as we work to get our community vaccinated as quickly as possible."

I registered under Phase 1B and now I am eligible for Phase 1A. Should I complete the form again?

Only if your new eligibility is because of a health condition.

If you previously submitted the 1B form for your profession and are now eligible for a vaccine in 1A due to a medical condition, you need to complete the new form to indicate that you have a high-risk medical condition.

But, if you previously completed the form for 1A or 1B, you do not need to complete it again; your information will be carried over.

High-risk medical conditions for vaccine considerations are: Cancer; Chronic kidney disease; COPD; Down Syndrome; Heart conditions such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies; Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant or from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines; Obesity (based on body mass index [BMI] of 30, but less than 40); Severe Obesity (BMI over 40); Pregnancy; Sickle cell disease; Smoking; Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Here is a chart from the National Institute of Health to find BMI.

Can I get a vaccine if I have already had COVID-19?

Yes, unless you are currently in quarantine, in isolation, or have COVID-19 symptoms. If so, you need to wait until you are no longer sick and have met the criteria to be out of quarantine or isolation.

Chester County Health Department's COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs page offers answers to other questions about the COVID-19 vaccination process.

The first step is to register your interest in getting the vaccine. The form for those 16 and over who live and work in Chester County can be found at www.chesco.org/covidvaccine.

The information provided on the form helps the health department to place each individual into the Phase 1A, 1B, 1C, and Phase 2 categories. When COVID-19 vaccine doses become available, the county opens appointments and will contact those registered.

Additional vaccination sites, beyond the current site at the Chester County Government Services Center on Westtown Road in West Chester, will begin operating as vaccine supplies allow, the health department has said.

For Chester County’s comprehensive COVID-19 information and updates, including testing locations and times, data and mapping, as well as vaccine information, go to www.chesco.org/coronavirus.

Read a recent related story here.

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