Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf welcomed a couple new members of his administrative health team during a briefing Tuesday that focused on how availability is delaying the COVID-19 vaccination process.
“We have received about 1.5 million vaccines. And since it’s a two shot cycle, that means we have enough for about 750,000 Pennsylvanians,” Wolf said. “There are over four million people in that Phase 1A category, which means we need about 8 million vaccines.”
One of the new administrators helping to deal more directly with the vaccine situation is acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam who speaks to the limited supply available and who is getting it first.
“The most important thing for Pennsylvanians to remember is that vaccine providers are working as quickly as possible to vaccinate you,” Beam said. “The demand for vaccine for outweighs the supply. But we will catch up. We must be patient.”
“We want to ensure that the vaccine is provided to Pennsylvanians in a way that is ethical, equitable, and efficient, which is why we’re taking a phased in approach,” Beam added.
Wolf’s briefing also included interim acting Physician General Dr. Wendy Braund and Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Randy Padfield.
Former Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine is a member of President Joe Biden’s federal health administration.
