Vaccine distribution plan unfolds
With vaccine distribution underway, local health officials are rolling further into the state's plans, which will include front-line workers such as EMS responders.
“The potential for exposure is great,” said Gene Troyan, director of operations for Butler Ambulance Service. “We wear PPE (personal protective equipment), but nothing is 100% guaranteed in life.”
State Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said that as Phase 1A of the state's distribution plans unfold, she stressed the importance of preparations for Phase 1B, which could begin as early as next week.
Pennsylvania's vaccine distribution plans have mirrored those outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC updated its guidance Tuesday, making some adjustments, which Levine clarified in a news conference Wednesday.
Phase 1A includes the front-line workers in hospitals. It also includes the vaccination of staff and residents of nursing homes overseen by the Department of Health, and long-term care facilities and personal-care homes overseen by the Department of Human Services.
Phase 1B includes front-line workers unaffiliated with hospitals and health systems as well as seniors age 75 and older who live outside the facilities in Phase 1A.
Levine called on the hospitals to work with EMS agencies and nonaffiliated health care for vaccinations.
“We feel that it is part of the hospitals' responsibilities to be able to work with EMS agencies,” Levine said. “We will work to facilitate that communication to make sure it all works out right.”
Troyan said Butler Ambulance Service administrators have been in contact with both Butler Memorial Hospital and Allegheny Health Network Grove City regarding vaccines.
“That gives us some options,” he said.
BHS officials have been ahead of the game in planning for the vaccine distribution, according to Dr. Kip Beals, vice president of the ambulatory network and chief innovation officer for BHS.“I am so proud of this team and the way they're able to anticipate and make moves, even before being given direction,” Beals said. “I think we understand our communities very well.”BHS focused on its acute hospital settings first at Butler Memorial and Clarion hospitals. Then, it began planning vaccinations for vital pieces that help maintain the community's health.“People, like our first responders, are critical in care of the community,” Beals said. “We thought of them early on.”Troyan said the vaccines will be voluntary, leaving the choice in employees' hands. He said although some may decide against the vaccine, those who take it may find some relief in having extra protection. He said that too comes with a risk.“We also don't want it to become a false security,” Troyan said. “It still has not been proven that they would not be a carrier.“Until that, they still have to use their safety precautions. We certainly don't want them taking this home to their friends and family. They still have to use their PPE.”Troyan said the vaccines may be on the horizon, but the current concern is the upcoming holiday and shortly afterward. He said there have been many more calls for transporting patients since the Thanksgiving holiday.“The numbers are multiple times greater in COVID-19 patients we're transporting,” he said. “It is stressful. Almost every call we go on, we either have been acknowledged that it's a COVID patient or we suspect it because of their signs and symptoms.”While Wednesday's news conference gravitated toward Phase 1B, Levine also noted that Phase 1A distributions were still taking place this week. She said nursing homes and long-term care facilities will likely begin having clinics next week.Those clinics will be run by CVS and Walgreens, pharmaceutical companies partnered with the federal government.Levine also clarified Wednesday that the state's involvement in those processes include only the selection of the vaccine, which was decided to be the Pfizer-BioNTech product, and the signing up of all the facilities. The rest of the vaccination process will be carried out by Operation Warp Speed and pharmacies.“We actually do not have granular data on how they plan to start that on Monday,” she said. “We anticipate more detail from CVS and Walgreens as the week progresses, but that is their mission to accomplish.”
