Excela starting to offer covid vaccines to public when available; most staffers immunized
Feb. 17—About 70% of Excela Health's staff are immunized against the coronavirus and a limited number of appointments are periodically being opened to community members who meet the state's guidelines.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Carol Fox said the health system late last week opened appointments on its website to people over age 75. Those slots have since been filled. When more are available, the website will be updated. There is no waiting list.
"As we get more vaccine, we're going to open it to the entirety of 1A," she said, referring to the first phase of Pennsylvania's vaccination plan. "That continues to depend on how many vaccines we receive from the state."
Anyone 65 and older and those who have certain medical conditions, along with health care workers and long-term care facility residents, currently are eligible to get the vaccine under the first phase of the state's plan. However, supply is not meeting the demand. The federal government, which supplies vaccines to states, has purchased additional doses.
So far, more than 24,000 Westmoreland residents have received one dose of vaccine, while about 12,000 have received both shots, according to figures from the state health department. Statewide, more than 1.3 million residents have received one shot, with 436,000 having received both, the state reported Wednesday.
Of the roughly 12.8 million people in the state, about 346,000 live in Westmoreland County, including about 81,000 people who are 65 and older. Some of that population likely includes residents of nursing and long-term care facilities that have their own vaccination programs underway.
There are some Excela Health staffers who are interested in being immunized and haven't yet, but "we're largely done," Fox said. There are about 2,000 appointments scheduled this week for those who fall under the Phase 1A requirements.
"As fast as we receive the vaccine, or notification that we're receiving it, we're releasing slots to the 1A population," she said. "We are not holding supply for second doses."
When more appointments are available, a self-scheduling portal will be open at excelahealth.org under covid-19 vaccine information. On Wednesday, no appointments were available.
Fox said officials are working on establishing a phone line and coordinating the manpower to help with scheduling appointments. That phone number has not been released and appointments cannot be made by phone yet. The best way to schedule an appointment remains through the website.
Excela Health first started vaccinating its staff members two months ago. While the vaccine has started to infiltrate the community, Fox said it remains important to continue with social distancing and the wearing of face coverings.
After receiving the second and final shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, immunity isn't fully formed in a person's body for at least two weeks, Fox said. And it remains unclear if those who have been immunized can still transmit the virus to others even if they don't become ill, she said.
"Don't let up on the precautions," she said.
Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Renatta at 724-837-5374, rsignorini@triblive.com or via Twitter .
