Vaccinations to begin locally today

UPMC Altoona, Mount Nittany will start inoculations of frontline workers

UPMC Altoona received a shipment of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine Wednesday, despite the snow, and will begin inoculations of frontline health care workers today in the context of a news conference at the hospital.

UPMC Altoona, along with Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College, were among seven hospitals to get shipments of the vaccine Wednesday, after seven received them Tuesday and two Monday, according to information from the state Department of Health.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the Pfizer vaccine last weekend, and it is being sent all over the country from the Pfizer manufacturing plant in Michigan -- including 97,000 doses to hospitals in 66 counties in Pennsylvania, along with 13,000 to hospitals in Philadelphia.

The vaccines need to be stored at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit, and trays with 975 vials are being sent only to facilities that have the right equipment and enough staff to ensure the vaccine remains viable throughout the time it takes to administer the vaccinations, according to Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, who spoke at a virtual news conference Thursday.

There were no delivery delays because of Wednesday's snowstorm, Levine said.

As of noon Thursday, the process had gone smoothly, with no problematic side effects observed in Pennsylvania, Levine said.

"The process has just started," Levine said of the vaccination effort, expected to include distribution and administration of a Moderna vaccine, which should receive federal approval soon, and possibly vaccines from Astra-Zeneca and Johnson & Johnson, Levine said.

"It's an enormous undertaking," she said.

The state expects to begin receiving the Moderna vaccine shipments Dec. 28, Levine said.

It can be stored at minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit, which is not as challenging as the requirement for the Pfizer vaccine.

Thus, the Moderna vaccine may go to some rural hospitals that can't handle the Pfizer product, according to Levine.

The DoH has been talking daily with the CDC and Operation Warp Speed, which is handling all aspects of vaccine delivery, while also ensuring timely delivery of booster doses -- three weeks later for the Pfizer product and four weeks later for the Moderna product, according to Levine.

"We have very good communication" with the federal agencies, Levine said.

Hospitals and the DoH have set up protocols to ensure that people who get vaccinated are reminded to get their second shots, Levine said.

The vaccine distribution is in Phase 1A, whose recipients also include seniors with co-morbid conditions.

Phase 1B will include vaccination of long-term care facility residents and workers, as well as people in prisons, according to Levine.

Vaccinations at long-term care facilities will be administered by pharmacists from CVS and Walgreens under a partnership with the federal government, according to Levine and emailed information from DoH spokeswoman Rachel Kostelac.

Medical workers this week have discovered that many of the Pfizer vials have more than the five expected doses -- some have six or more, according to Levine.

"That's very good information," she said.

The FDA has recommended using full extra doses left in the vials -- but doesn't recommend combining remainders from multiple vials, Levine said.

The DoH will provide updates on the COVID-19 vaccination program using a dashboard on its website, according to Levine.

People who have tested positive for coronavirus still should get vaccinated, Levine said.

It isn't clear how durable immunity to COVID-19 is for people who contract the illness, although there's some indication that a case with more severe symptoms confers greater protection, Levine said.

When asked Thursday whether she's frustrated about the widespread opposition to the state's COVID-19 mitigation mandates, Levine disagreed.

"I wouldn't say (it's) frustrating," Levine said. "I would say motivating."

She uses the frequent questioning of the state's guidance and the widespread refusal to follow that guidance as incentive "to continue to get the message out," so people can better understand that message, she said.

"I will stay laser-focused on that mission," she said.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.