Pennsylvania and Maryland officials have announced updates to the vaccination plan.
Pennsylvania hospitals began receiving shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine the week of Dec. 14 and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine the week of Dec. 21, not including vaccine administration through the CVS and Walgreens as part of the Federal Pharmacy Partnership.
Vaccination numbers for Pennsylvania does not include Philadelphia, which is its own jurisdiction, or federal facilities, which are working directly with the federal government.
This week, a total of 326,850 doses will have been allocated through February 20:
183,575 first doses will have been allocated this week.
143,275 second doses will have been allocated this week.
To date, of the 2,766,400 doses allocated through February 20, we have administered 1,931,557 doses total through February 19:
- First doses, 88 percent (1,421,115 administered of 1,610,175 allocated)
- Second doses, 44 percent (510,442 administered of 1,156,225 allocated)
Mask-wearing is required in all businesses and whenever leaving home. Consistent mask-wearing is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19.
There are 107,257 individuals who have a positive viral antigen test and are considered probable cases and 637 individuals who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure.
There are 3,815,778,266 individuals who have tested negative to date.
In licensed nursing and personal care homes, there are 65,992 resident cases of COVID-19, and 12,816 cases among employees, for a total of 78,808 at 1,565 distinct facilities in all 67 counties.
Out of total deaths reported to PA-NEDSS, 12,223 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities.
Approximately 24,419 of total cases are among health care workers.
On Saturday, there were 2,818 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 911,591.
There are 2,061 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that number, 441 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older.
The trend in the 14-day moving average number of hospitalized patients per day is about 3,500 lower than it was at the peak on December 25, 2020. The current 14-day average is just below what it was at the height of the spring peak on May 3, 2020.
Statewide percent positivity for the week of February 12 – February 18 stood at 6.5%.
As of 11:59 p.m., Friday, February 19, there were 90 new deaths identified by the Pennsylvania death registry, for a total of 23,570 deaths attributed to COVID-19.
Washington County, Maryland
Washington County remains in Phase 1C. Priority groups 1A, 1B, and 1C are eligible to receive vaccines in Washington County. Priority group 1C includes the following individuals who are eligible for vaccination:
- All adults over the age of 65
- Food and agricultural workers
- U.S. Postal Service workers
- Grocery/Convenience store workers
- Public and private transit workers
- Manufacturing workers
- Veterinarians and their support staff
- Members of clergy and others deemed essential support for houses of worship
- Everyone in Priority Groups 1A and 1B
- Individuals who are currently hospitalized AND diagnosed with the following criteria are eligible to receive vaccine in Phase 1C:
- Cancer patients who are currently in active treatment
- End-stage renal disease patients requiring hemodialysis
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), especially those who are oxygen-dependent or are steroid-dependent
- Solid organ transplant recipients
- Sickle cell disease patients
- Diabetic patients (Type 1 and Type 2)
Individuals who are diagnosed with these medical conditions but are not currently hospitalized will be eligible to receive the vaccine in Maryland’s Phase 2 COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
Maryland Department of Health is requiring local health departments to prioritize older adults aged 65 and up for vaccination appointment slots, as they become available.
Thousands of people on the call list means it will take several weeks before you are contacted to schedule a vaccination appointment
Please be patient and refrain from contacting the Health Department and Meritus to receive a status update on where you are on the waitlist and when you will be able to schedule your appointment.
You will receive a phone call to schedule an appointment. If you are in Phase 1A, 1B, or 1C priority groups and have completed an online form on either Meritus Health, MyChart, or the Health Department, you are on the call list.
In addition, a senior COVID Vaccine Call List Assistance Hotline was created to assist Washington County residents who are 65 and older.
This toll-free hotline is ONLY for seniors 65 and older who do not have internet access and need assistance signing up for the COVID-19 vaccine call list form.
Senior COVID-19 Vaccine Call List Assistance Hotline: 1-833-231-1852
To receive additional information, you can call the COVID-19 Vaccine Information Hotline at 1-833-285-2804 to receive the latest updates.
The State of Maryland has launched a pilot program for COVID-19 vaccines to be administered at Giant and Walmart pharmacies. There are two Martin’s locations in Washington County that are part of this program. Please visit https://martinsfoods.com/pages/tgc-vaccines to learn more about this program.
Those aged 65 and older are eligible for a vaccine appointment. You will be contacted to schedule your vaccine appointment in the order in which your request has been received.
