PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL YOUR REQUESTS OR APPLICATIONS

It took just three hours today for all available Allentown Health Bureau COVID-19 vaccination clinic appointments to be filled.  An update to the below release will be posted when more appointments can be scheduled.

Eligibility is expanding for people to receive COVID-19 vaccinations in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced yesterday that all individuals 65 and older, and individuals ages 16-64 with certain medical conditions, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that increase the risk of severe illness from the virus, are eligible immediately for the COVID-19 vaccination. Those conditions are outlined by the CDC and are listed below:

• Cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Down Syndrome
• Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant, blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines.
• Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m² or higher but < 40 kg/m²)
• Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²)
• Pregnancy
• Sickle cell disease
• Smoking
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Vaccinations will begin at the Agri-Plex complex at the Allentown Fairgrounds at 1725 W. Chew Street on Monday, January 25, 2021.

Click here www.allentownpaclinics.com for the On-Line Reservation System and follow instructions for exact dates and locations to schedule an appointment.

Identification with proof of age is required at the vaccination site.  Those who do not provide the necessary information will be turned away.

Individuals qualifying because of underlying medical conditions are not required to bring proof of medical conditions to obtain a vaccine but should talk to their provider beforehand to see if vaccination is appropriate for them.

The Allentown Health Bureau administers the Moderna vaccine which is only for persons 18 years of age and older.

At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech product is approved for those age 16 and 17 and is not available through the Health Bureau.

If you show up at a site without an appointment, you will not receive a vaccine.

Initially the vaccine was only available to those licensed medical professionals & care staff including but not limited to: EMS professionals, dentists, podiatrists, dermatologists, ophthalmologists, primary care physicians, etc.  And home health agency staff including hospice, visiting nurses, physical therapy, occupational health, home health aides, etc.

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photo: ScienceNews.org