UPMC Northwest is continuing to vaccinate health care workers while eagerly awaiting a larger COVID-19 vaccine shipment to begin mass inoculations.
“We are running clinics for a couple hundred people who qualify, such as non-UPMC physician offices and other frontline health workers, this week,” said Katelin Speer, pharmacist and director of operations at UPMC Northwest. “But, we are nearing a more definitive date for the larger inoculations. It will be by mid-February, and hopefully sooner.”
While other facilities in the region have rolled out more public vaccine clinics, UPMC Northwest has not been able to secure sufficient vaccine supplies from the state for inoculations beyond the health care personnel.
Hospital is on its own
The hospital deals directly with the state Department of Health in requesting the vaccines. There is no jockeying for first in line among the 40-hospital UPMC system, according to Speer.
“We’ve repeatedly requested additional doses but the state continues to reiterate that their hands are tied as to the supplies,” said Speer. “We are at the whim of the state on when they will send us the vaccine.
“All the UPMC hospitals are doing it directly with the state and there is no influence as to what UPMC hospital can get it first. It doesn’t matter that we are a rural hospital.”
County commissioners in Clarion and surrounding counties have worked or are working with hospitals to find suitable vaccination locations and set up vaccine schedules. In Venango County, UPMC Northwest is working mainly on its own.
“We’ve been kind of going it alone and we’ve not had a ton of communication with the county,” said Speer. “And, we really have no local point people like if we had a state health department here.”
Signup options
The lack of sufficient vaccine supplies to inoculate people 65 and older or people up to 65 with existing health conditions, a very large group that is listed after the health care workers category, means no appointments are being accepted by UPMC Northwest for vaccinations.
“We don’t have signups yet,” said Speer. “We are working through a system that will allow for that. We want to make sure that there are options to register, including online and by phone.
“There is a lot of fear among the older community on how to register if they don’t have access to the internet or have someone who can help them with that. We want to have equitable access to everyone in that 65 and older group, so we will add extra options.”
Once the larger vaccine rollout is due to begin, individuals will be required to register in advance.
“Everything will be scheduled and there will be no walk-ins. We are evaluating off-site locations near the hospital to give the vaccine because we have no space large enough in the hospital to handle all the people,” said Speer.
Other vaccine locations
In the tri-county area, there are state-identified sites for vaccinations.
A state Department of Health map titled “Pennsylvania Vaccine Provider Information” lists two categories. The first includes locations that will be potential vaccination sites, but they are labeled as having “no vaccine available” status.
They include the Giant Eagle pharmacy in Reno, Tionesta Health Center, Titusville Community Health Center.
The second listing shows facilities that have vaccines, and they include UPMC Northwest and Primary Health Network in Oil City.
In addition, Clarion Hospital will begin its large-scale rollout of the vaccine today at the former Peebles building at the Clarion Mall.
Speer said there have been some concerns expressed about actual vaccinations being administered.
“They are booking people in before they get the vaccine, so you could be in a wait line and then be told that you either didn’t have an appointment or there is not enough vaccine,” said Speer. “So there is no guarantee.”
Speer is coordinating the hospital’s efforts to secure more vaccine as well as construct a system for registration and inoculations.
“We want to have the structure in place simultaneously with getting the vaccines. I know it’s hard to ask people to continue to be patient,” she said. “This is not an easy time and I want to make sure that when our scheduling opens, we will have the vaccines in place. I don’t want to offer false hope. When we turn it on and make the appointments, they will know that yes, they will get the vaccine.”
Regardless of the UPMC Northwest schedule, though, area residents are being encouraged to obtain a vaccination when and where they can.
“If people can find it wherever, they should take the first opportunity to get it. When we are ready to turn it on here, we will,” said Speer. “We want to take advantage of the (virus spread) dip here and get people vaccinated as soon as possible to maybe prevent another surge.
“So we are still emphasizing mask wearing, social distancing, hand hygiene. I ask people to hold tight just a little longer and we will get there. And when we do, we will very quickly make sure everyone knows we are ready.”
