In case you know people looking for vaccine who are over 50 AND have the below health conditions (see first highlighted section) - there will be mass vaccination clinics next week at the Peterson Event Center. Sign-ups are on this page -* https://alleghenycounty.us/COVIDvaccine <https://alleghenycounty.us/COVIDvaccine>* - but you have to scroll down to find them. If people don’t have internet access, they can call 211 to help get scheduled. ------------------------------ *From:* Allegheny News <AlleghenyNEWS@AlleghenyCounty.US> *Sent:* Thursday, March 18, 2021 9:17:06 AM *Subject:* Eligibility Priorities Expand for Health Department Vaccination Sites [image: cid:image001.jpg@01D71BD7.6F06BC70] *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* March 18, 2021 *PRESS CONTACT:* Amie M. Downs 412-350-3711 (phone) 412-327-3700 (cell) Amie.Downs@AlleghenyCounty.us *Eligibility Priorities Expand for Health Department Vaccination Sites **Change Adds Persons Aged 50-64 in Phase 1A with Underlying Health Conditions* *PITTSBURGH – *During the weekly COVID-19 briefing held yesterday afternoon, Dr. Debra Bogen, Director of the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) announced changes to ACHD vaccination sites priorities. Beginning Friday, March 19, the Health Department will continue to vaccinate individuals 65 and older and will add those ages 50 to 64 who meet the Pennsylvania Phase 1A medical conditions. Conditions that qualify individuals aged 50 to 64 for vaccination include those who have cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, Down syndrome, heart conditions but not high blood pressure, immunocompromised, obesity, pregnancy, sickle cell disease, smoking and type 2 diabetes. “We remain committed in our vaccination approach to serve the most at risk in our county first,” said Bogen. “By the end of the week, at least 50% of those county residents who are 65 years of age and older will have received at least one vaccine. Although we still have work to do serving this population, these data tell us we need to expand our eligibility requirements for vaccination.” The announcement follows news earlier this week of three additional COVID-19 vaccine points of dispensing (POD) opening before the end of the month. Appointments at all sites are available only through ACHD. Individuals should NOT contact the sites. All vaccines will be by appointment only. As has been the case, appointments will be announced through Allegheny Alerts and then posted on the county’s COVID Vaccine page. Residents without Internet access, or having difficulty navigating the online registration system, may contact 2-1-1 for assistance in scheduling when appointments are available. Anyone arriving without an appointment, or not meeting priority criteria will be turned away. Walk-up registrations are not available. Central Baptist Church will be the new site in the Central Hill District and will open March 22. The Health Department and Duquesne University’s Center for Integrative Health will operate this site with the goal of targeting specific communities and populations who have not yet been reached. This includes serving those who have additional needs such as accessibility and translation. The Peterson Events Center will serve as a temporary site in Oakland. The Health Department is collaborating with the University of Pittsburgh, for clinics operating two days this week (yesterday and today) and four days next week. Pitt’s Schools of Pharmacy, Nursing, Medicine, Dental Medicine, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and Graduate School of Public Health are serving as vaccinators. The Ross Township Community Center site will open the week of March 22. The operating team will include the Health Department and members of the Medical Reserve Corps with additional staff coming on as the site continues to ramp up. The Castle Shannon POD continues to operate and is now being staffed by volunteers with the American Red Cross and employees of the Medical Rescue Team South Authority (MRTSA) through agreements with the county. Emergency Services staff also continue to support the operation of the POD. ACHD also continues to bring vaccine directly to senior living facilities around the county and have more events planned to reach seniors specifically. focusing first on public facilities and then private facilities with low-income or subsidized housing for its senior residents. Vaccines are being administered by Health Department and Emergency Services staff with support from Human Services staff. With limited exceptions, second dose appointments will be provided at the same location that individuals received their first dose, within the 28- to 42-day window recommended by the CDC. Bogen also noted that the ACHD team is working to bring additional sites online and will use all of these locations to achieve its goals of equitable vaccine distribution. “I am grateful to all those who have joined us in these and so many other collaborations. In each case, the Health Department is teaming up with dedicated, trusted organizations and institutions,” said Bogen. “Along with all the other vaccine providers in the county, the hospitals, pharmacies, FQHCs and other - we are working to meet the vaccine needs of our county’s residents.” Resource navigators at 2-1-1 remain available 24/7 to assist the community with questions related to the COVID-19 vaccines and any other COVID-related inquiries. Call-takers can also refer callers to the Pittsburgh Poison Center for clinical-related questions about the vaccine. The department will continue to share information on its Vaccine Information Page (https://alleghenycounty.us/COVIDvaccine <https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Falleghenycounty.us%2FCOVIDvaccine&data=04%7C01%7CKAB439%40pitt.edu%7Cb204da2df4274bc7a9dc08d8ea1acb48%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1%7C0%7C637516748083199124%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=4g6RupATodjzh7v349N3BLO4kYkGr7G8ociQM53KuFI%3D&reserved=0>) and push out announcements through Allegheny Alerts ( https://alleghenycounty.us/alerts <https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Falleghenycounty.us%2Falerts&data=04%7C01%7CKAB439%40pitt.edu%7Cb204da2df4274bc7a9dc08d8ea1acb48%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1%7C0%7C637516748083199124%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=9zOiUBjvjexqY573XEFt%2FFteUR5aEj3t4SSz2jcnp0U%3D&reserved=0>). # # # Debra L. 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