Heritage Valley Health System has administered more than 2,600 “first-doses” of the COVID-19 vaccine and several hundred more employees and first responders are scheduled to receive the vaccine in early January. Two doses are required for both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
To date, Heritage Valley Health System has received 1,950 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and 2,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Employee vaccination clinics have been held at the three hospital campuses in Beaver, Kennedy Township, and Sewickley. (Pictured right is Marianne Warkonyi, Unit Clerk, receiving the vaccine administered by Amy Beck, RN.)
Once more vaccine doses are available and received, administration of the vaccine to the community will take place under the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Department of Health as follows:
Phase Description
1a Healthcare Personnel and Long-term care facility residents – (In-process)
1b Frontline essential workers and Persons > 75 years – (As vaccine becomes available)
1c Persons aged 65 – 74 years and persons aged 16 – 64 with high-risk medical conditions
2 All remaining community members >16
To help facilitate the vaccination effort, Heritage Valley developed an automated tool for individuals to schedule their first and second doses and record those dates on their electronic calendars. “This automated process seamlessly allows individuals to schedule appointments at their convenience and enables the Health System to perform all of the required reporting associated with the COVID-19 vaccine process,” said Jon Zagorski, Chief Information Officer, Heritage Valley Health System.
"We are committed to open, timely communication regarding the delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine to the public," said Norm Mitry, President & CEO, Heritage Valley Health System. "Heritage Valley has developed a vaccine distribution plan that will be implemented as soon as we receive additional doses for the community. We ask that you remain connected to Heritage Valley through E-Connections, our website, and social media to stay apprised of the latest information."