First Pa. Vaccination Phase Expanded to Include Older Adults, Those With Co-Morbidities

Pennsylvania Department of Health Deputy Secretary Cindy Findley said on Tuesday that the state is expanding the Phase 1A stage of its COVID-19 vaccine distribution, reports Lehigh Valley Live . She said anyone older than 65 and anyone between 16 and 64 years old with a condition that puts them at higher risk of the virus, including pregnant women, is now eligible. Those categories were previously relegated to later phases of Pennsylvania's vaccination plan, with those 75 and older included in 1B while 65- to 74-year-olds and 16- to 64-year-olds with co-morbidities were in 1C. "We want to provide the vaccine to Pennsylvanians in a way that's ethical and efficient," Findley said. She added that the changes to the phases keep Pennsylvania's rollout in line with the federal government's recommendations. "We're aware that we don't have enough vaccines at this point," Findley acknowledged. She said any schedule for the advancement of phases depends on how much of the vaccine is being manufactured.