Good Wednesday Morning, Fellow Seekers.
When the OK comes down from the federal government, state health officials said Tuesday that Pennsylvania vaccine providers are ready to begin administering COVID-19 booster shots.
“Pennsylvania is well prepared to start providing vaccine booster shots just as soon as the CDC provides the approval and guidelines on who can get it,” acting Health Secretary Alison Beam said Tuesday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is scheduled to deliberate COVID-19 boosters and provide guidance for their administration following the meeting.
“Vaccine providers — especially pharmacies — have already done a tremendous job administering more than 12 million vaccines across the state. Now they are ready to get booster shots to people as quickly and efficiently as possible,” Beam said in a statement.
Speaking to reporters from Hershey Pharmacy in Dauphin County Tuesday, Beam confirmed that she signed an order requiring vaccine providers to work with local Areas on Aging and Medical Assistance Managed Care Organizations to get booster shots to eligible individuals. The order also requires providers to offer online and other scheduling assistance opportunities.
Acting Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson (Commonwealth Media Services photo).
There are currently more than 2,000 vaccine providers across the state with COVID-19 vaccine inventory, the Department of Health confirmed.
Last week, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported that 97 percent of COVID-19-related deaths and 95 percent of reported hospitalizations due to COVID-19 were in unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated people.
“The data is abundantly clear that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at preventing hospitalization and death,” acting Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson said Tuesday. “We continue to urge every eligible person to get the vaccine, not only for themselves, but to protect their family and loved ones, especially kids under 12 who are too young to get the vaccine, which is in plentiful supply across the state.”
Our Stuff
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In reversal, Pa. redistricting commission votes to count 3,000 more prisoners in their cells. Stephen Caruso has the story.
On the Commentary Page: Ben Sanchez writes: Constitutional amendments are better determined during high voter turnout elections and David Lapp reviews five education policies.
ICYMI:
Marley Parish reports: Pa. Supreme Court hears arguments over crime victims’ amendment Marsy’s Law
Stephen Caruso reports: 2021 judicial candidates for Pa. appellate courts make their pitches to voters
Another one from Stephen Caruso: House Republicans punt on school masks vote after returning early to address it
State Farm Bureaus Back Proposal for $737M Chesapeake Watershed Cleanup Initiative, Josh Kurtz of Maryland Matters has the story.
From the D.C. Bureau’s Laura Olson: U.S. House Dems propose $28.6B in disaster aid for recovery from hurricanes, wildfires, floods
Elsewhere
Pa. pharmacy chain owner admits illegally selling oxycodone, hydrocodone in federal case. PennLive has the story.
From the Carlisle Sentinel: Public defiance of mask mandate prompts changes for meetings at Cumberland Valley School District
Central York School District reverses diversity book ban: ‘We have heard you,’ the York Dispatch reports.
From the Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon County’s new elections director withdraws before even starting the job
Here’s your #Pennsylvania Instagram of the day
(Image via Instagram).
What Goes On
10 a.m.: House in Session
11 a.m.: Senate in Session
Heavy Rotation
To celebrate the first day of Autumn, here’s “Sweater Weather,” by The Neighbourhood.
Penn Capital-Star Readers
The Penn Capital-Star Readers group on Goodreads has started reading “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents” by Isabel Wilkerson. Join us here.
And now you’re up to date.
Originally published at www.penncapital-star.com,by Cassie Miller
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