By Kristy Warren
The Laurel Health Centers are working diligently around-the-clock to prepare our COVID-19 vaccine rollout to our patients and community. These vaccines will play an important role alongside masking, hand washing, and social distancing in protecting ourselves from the virus and getting our communities back to normal sooner.
We have received our first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine and are currently working closely with Tioga County’s other healthcare systems to vaccinate healthcare workers in Phase 1A. Due to the current limited supply of vaccines, the state has established a prioritization schedule to ensure a safe, effective rollout where those most at risk receive the vaccine first. You can review this schedule at health.pa.gov.
The vaccine rollout begins with frontline clinical staff and high-risk patients in congregate care (e.g., nursing homes). It will move next to patients considered at higher risk for complications (e.g., seniors, chronic disease patients, and those with underlying health conditions), other essential frontline workers, and then to the full community.
We understand that you may be anxious to know more about when the vaccine will be available to you and your loved ones, and we can assure you that Laurel Health is coordinating with community partners to distribute vaccines as efficiently and quickly as possible.
The Laurel Health Centers will reach out to our patients for scheduling as soon as we’re able to move into the next phases and will keep you fully informed throughout the process via our social media and our news page.
For more information about the vaccine and how it works, click here. For updates on our vaccine roll out, stay tuned to laurelhc.org. For information on the different tools we can use to protect ourselves from COVID-19, please see the infographic below provided by the CDC.
