(1 day ago) Northwest Delegation
HARRISBURG, Feb. 24 – Citing significant and troubling concerns regarding access to the COVID-19 vaccine for several at-risk populations, including teachers, school personnel and corrections officers, state Reps. Pam Snyder and Ryan Bizzarro have sent a letter to acting Pennsylvania Health Secretary Allison Beam, urging her to augment the Phase 1a category to include those individuals. Snyder, D-Greene/Fayette/Westmoreland, said further changes in prioritization are needed, including limiting smokers to only those 65 or older, which would put senior citizens and high-risk workers at the top of the list, while still allowing at-risk smokers access to the vaccine. “Prioritizing others over our educators and corrections officers is baffling, especially when you consider the close congregate work they perform, and to have them currently placed in the Phase 1b category is insulting,” Snyder said. “It’s also vital that our health care systems be better informed as to the number of vaccines they’re slated to receive, as well as when those vaccines will arrive. These institutions must be kept updated, and to leave them in the dark only further exacerbates the issues we continue to have with the ongoing vaccine rollout process.” “ I am proud to partner with Representative Snyder in helping make sure our most vulnerable populations receive the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Bizzarro, D-Erie. “The Read more