Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Calvin B. Johnson today announced that the Department of Health will distribute about 340,000 doses of influenza vaccine that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made available to Pennsylvanians most in need.
"Unfortunately, as a result of the nationwide vaccine shortage, it is possible that not all high-risk people who need and want a vaccination will be able to receive one," said Dr. Johnson. "However, these doses we will be receiving from the CDC will mean that 340,000 more high-risk Pennsylvanians will be able to receive their vaccination."
Distribution will begin with influenza vaccine being sent to facilities serving those at greatest risk from complications such as residents and staff of long-term care facilities, hospital patients and caregivers, and other health-care providers that target CDC designated risk-groups.
The Department of Health will work with CDC so that manufacturer Aventis Pasteur can ship directly to health-care providers in Pennsylvania over the coming weeks. The Department is finalizing plans of exactly who will receive the vaccine and how much they will get.
So far, the Commonwealth has received more than 1.7 million doses of vaccine, which was distributed by the public and private sector. At least 3 million Pennsylvanians are considered at high-risk.
In addition, Dr. Johnson renewed his call to the health-care community, businesses and retail stores to administer vaccine only to high-risk people and to notify the Department if they have extra vaccine that can redistributed to high-risk individuals.