CDC: Pa. lags in vaccine distribution

CDC: Pa. lags in vaccine distribution

By Hayden Mitman

February 8, 2021

Pennsylvania has received more than 2 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine but, fewer than a million residents have received their first shot. 

National officials say the state is lagging compared to other states.

The CDC ranked Pennsylvania 43rd out of 50 states last week on vaccine distribution. Pennsylvania Department of Health spokeswoman Lindsey Mauldin defended the state’s efforts.  

“I want to note that 83% of our first doses allocated to Pennsylvania have been distributed and administered and that’s an important number to stay focused on. And that’s what we are focused on at the department,” Mauldin says, “We must have patience because the amount of vaccine available in Pennsylvania and across the nation is limited.”

But the Centers for Disease Control says Pennsylvania has only given out about 55 percent of the total vaccines it has received. New Jersey and New York have fared better. Mauldin says the state is working on improvements.

“We always collaborate with our sister states to understand what they might be doing and to share best practices,” Mauldin says.

Mauldin says Pennsylvania is considering a plan for mass vaccination clinics, which New York and New Jersey already have in place. 

Sign up for our WLVR weekly newsletter to stay up to date with the latest news from the Lehigh Valley and across Pennsylvania.