Westmoreland County gets fewer covid vaccine doses than smaller counties; talks begin about regional health department

Feb. 26—Pennsylvania Department of Health officials confirmed that Westmoreland County was shortchanged in the number of covid-19 vaccine doses allocated since December as local and regional leaders continue to highlight mounting issues with the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

County Commissioner Doug Chew said analysis of state data found that 56 of the state's 66 counties (not including Philadelphia, which is allocated doses directly from the federal government) received a higher percentage of vaccine per capita. Westmoreland was the lowest among similarly sized counties, he said.

The state sent Westmoreland vendors enough vaccine to provide the first of two required doses for just 7% of the county's population and to fully inoculate 3% of the county of 348,000 residents, Chew said. Other less populated counties received enough doses to vaccinate a larger percentage of their residents.

In fact, Westmoreland ranked lowest among all third-class counties in terms of vaccines doses received, Chew said.

"Everybody in Westmoreland County is struggling to get a vaccine, and we want to see our position move up to be more in line with our population," Chew said.

Health department spokesman Barry Ciccocioppo agreed that Westmoreland vaccine providers received a total of 31,891 doses, an amount that is "slightly fewer doses per capita than similarly sized counties."

Through Feb. 19, Chew said his analysis revealed that 10 counties with smaller populations — Cumberland, Dauphin, Erie, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer and Montour — all received more doses than Westmoreland.

State officials did not respond to questions about how the Department of Health determines how many doses are sent to each county or the exact number of vaccinations Westmoreland was shorted.

"Depending on the state's total allocation, the department will look to increase Westmoreland's doses in the future, and as supply ramps up again, we will work to ensure they are receiving sufficient supply compared to peer counties," Ciccocioppo said.

Excela Health, the largest medical care provider in Westmoreland, has received about half of the vaccine doses allocated to the county, about 16,000 doses, according to Chief Medical Officer Dr. Carol Fox.

The county's vaccine allotment doesn't seem to match up to the population or the percentage of people age 65 and older who are eligible now to get immunized, she said.

"We want to ensure that we're getting as many vaccines as possible into" the arms of people who are at most risk of the virus, Fox said.

About 23% of county residents, or more than 81,000 people, are 65 and older, according to U.S. Census data. Seven counties (Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster and Philadelphia) have more residents in that age bracket.

Regional approach?

Just how vaccine doses are allocated remains a mystery to leaders throughout the region, who say they've asked the state to explain the criteria used but received no responses from the Department of Health.

Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughn said frustration is building over vaccine allocations.

"We're disappointed with the criteria that has been changed and changed again," Vaughn said, noting that Allegheny is the only county in the region to have received a direct allocation of vaccine doses from the state.

Allegheny also is the only county in southwestern Pennsylvania with its own health department. As of this week, records show it has received more than 50,000 doses of vaccine that have been distributed to senior citizens at local clinics over the last two months.

Commissioners from seven other counties — Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland — met remotely this week to discuss the possibility of forming a regional health department.

Vaughn said early estimates suggest that a health department that services multiple counties would cost around $8 million. She cautioned that talks are in the early stages to determine what regulatory and legislative approvals would be needed before such an agency can be formed.

"We need to look at options, whether it's for one county or regionally," she said.

Fayette Commissioner Dave Lohr said cost will be a factor as well as the impact a regional health department would have on local businesses and residents.

"We're all trying to figure out what is best for our people," Lohr said.

Westmoreland commissioners have rejected calls for the county to form its own health department. Commissioner Gina Cerilli last week floated the idea of a regional department that includes multiple counties.

"We are very interested in forming a regional health department as opposed to a individual one for Westmoreland. Obviously, the county would not take as big of a financial hit but the department will be directed towards the needs of Western Pennsylvania," Cerilli said.

Chew was less committal, saying many duties and oversight responsibilities the state currently requires of a health department as well as the logistics of one agency having to serve a large geographic region could dull interest.

"I'm not convinced it is doable regionally," Chew said. "I just think a large number of requirements make it formidable, even impossible, for a large number of counties to do it."

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Rich at 724-830-6293, rcholodofsky@triblive.com or via Twitter .