Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine recently issued guidance on vaccine access for health care personnel falling within Phase 1A of Pennsylvania’s interim vaccination plan. Health care personnel are defined as paid and unpaid persons serving in health care settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials. These health care personnel may include, but are not limited to, emergency medical service personnel, nurses, nursing assistants, physicians, technicians, therapists, phlebotomists, pharmacists, students and trainees, direct support professionals, clinical personnel in school settings or correctional facilities, contractual staff not employed by the health care facility, and persons (e.g., clerical, dietary, environmental services, laundry, security, maintenance, engineering and facilities management, administrative, billing, and volunteer personnel) not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to infectious agents that can be transmitted among from healthcare personnel and patients.
“Healthcare settings” refers to the CDC definition of the places where healthcare is delivered and includes, but is not limited to, acute care facilities, long term care facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, nursing home and assisted living facilities, home healthcare, vehicles where healthcare is delivered (e.g., mobile clinics), and outpatient facilities, such as dialysis centers, physician offices, adult day facilities, and others.
Under this definition, architects working in healthcare settings may be eligible for vaccination in Phase 1A pending vaccine supply and availability in their respective county, municipality, or healthcare system. Interested architects working in healthcare environments can contact their county/municipal health department or reach out to the hospital/health system they are contracted with to determine eligibility. The Department of Health has published a provider map that indicates vaccine status and points of contact. This map will be updated as more locations receive the vaccine.
The most up-to-date information on Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution, include providers that have received the vaccine, is available on the Department of Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine Information page.