The Pennsylvania State Troopers Association is renewing its call to prioritize COVID-19 vaccinations for troopers.

Representing 4,300 active and retired troopers, the association renewed a call it made in January urging Gov. Tom Wolf to add troopers to the groups of people receiving vaccinations through the state's phased approach.

Dave Kennedy, association president, issued a statement Wednesday, the day Wolf added elementary school teachers, special-education teachers, staff, bus drivers and administrators to the list of those who can receive vaccinations, which includes people over age 65, health carer workers and people with certain health conditions.

“There are only 4,300 state troopers in Pennsylvania, but they are responsible for patrolling over 85% of our commonwealth. Thus far, over 700 troopers have been infected with nearly 1,000 department employees overall. An outbreak could cripple our department. Public safety should be a priority right now. The PSTA renews our call for the administration to vaccinate first responders, so they can focus on doing their jobs,” Kennedy said.

He said some troopers could get vaccinated, but department-wide vaccinations are needed.

“This has been a very frustrating process for troopers and their loved ones. We have been out in communities interacting with people who have had the virus since the pandemic began. Like any Pennsylvanian, troopers can personally get vaccinated if they meet 1A health criteria and some counties have prioritized first responders. But as a department, troopers cannot undergo mass vaccinations until moving up to 1A or the commonwealth begins vaccinating 1B. It's time to prioritize our department,” Kennedy said.

Vaccinations have been made available to police and firefighters in the county who want them, local officials said.

In January, the association criticized the Pennsylvania Department of Health for allowing smokers to get vaccinated before troopers.

Statewide, 2,666,598 doses of vaccine have been administered, including 1,840,397 first doses and 826,201 second doses, according to the health department. A person is considered fully covered after receiving two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

In the county, the state reports 16,106 people have received one dose and 18,177 people have received both doses.

The newly approved one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine is being provided to teachers.

The state health department also reported 3,028 new cases statewide, raising the total number of people who have contracted the virus since the pandemic began last spring to 941,439. The 50 new deaths raises the total to 24,219.

In the county, 15 new cases and no new deaths were reported.