Ciresi resolution urges HHS to send more vaccine to PA

HARRISBURG, March 29 – By introducing a resolution in the PA House of Representatives urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to increase its allocation of COVID-19 vaccine doses to Pennsylvania, state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, is hoping to spread a message of hope for state residents.

“More than a year into this pandemic, and while absorbing the loss of more than 25,000 of our friends, family and neighbors to the disease, Pennsylvanians are finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel,” Ciresi said. “Because of vaccinations, many are envisioning a return to a sense of normalcy. But to truly get there, we need the federal government to supply sufficient doses of the available vaccines.”

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, each Pennsylvanian that receives a COVID-19 vaccination puts all of us one step closer to beating the virus. But, because of a limited supply, only those who qualify in the first phase – Phase 1A – are currently eligible to receive the vaccine.

Phase 1A includes people most at risk of illness, including healthcare workers, people living in long-term care facilities, people age 65+, and people age 16-64 with high-risk conditions.

As of March 29, nearly 5 million doses of vaccine have been administered in Pennsylvania, with 1.7 million people fully vaccinated. Pennsylvania’s population is 12.8 million people.

“From the early days of the pandemic, when we were among the hardest hit, until now, our commonwealth and many of its citizens have been diligently following the recommendations of public health experts to mitigate the spread of this virus,” Ciresi said. “Our commitment to evidence-based, life-saving policies should be recognized, and with more vaccines, we can get to the finish line and provide our citizens with relief from this prolonged ordeal. That’s why I’m urging HHS to increase its supply to Pennsylvania.”

Ciresi officially introduced the resolution as H.R. 86 on Monday. It will soon be assigned to a House committee.

More information is available by contacting Ciresi’s office at 484-200-8265.