Pa. opening up COVID shots to all adults by mid-April; other groups eligible immediately
Written by Victoria Scialfa on March 31, 2021
Pa. opening up COVID shots to all adults by mid-April; other groups eligible immediately
by Tyler Pratt
March 31, 2021
Pennsylvania is speeding up COVID-19 vaccine eligibility. Department of Health officials on March 31 said all adults in the commonwealth will be able to sign up for shots by mid-April.
More front-line essential workers can immediately start looking for vaccine appointments. Law enforcement, firefighters, grocery store employees and food and agricuture workers.
“All individuals in these groups are eligible for vaccination now regardless of immigration status or citizenship,” says Alison Beam, acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Health.
On April 5, the 1B category opens. This includes public transit and postal workers and the incarcerated. The state will unlock 1C a week later which means people in finance, construction, and government employees become eligible. Vaccine eligibility opens to all remaining adults on April 19.
State Sen. Art Haywood (D-Philadelphia), who sits on the vaccine task force, says supply has increased.
“April and May will be nothing like February and March,” Haywood says.
Health officials say the plan is to distribute more vaccines to pharmacies, meaning more may be able to schedule their appointments and possibly fewer long lines.
The changes to Pennsylvania’s vaccine rollout will not impact Philadelphia, which has its own health department and timetable for distribution.
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