COVID vaccine distribution in Franklin County: What you need to know

In Pennsylvania, 373,529 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered as of Jan. 13, according to the state Department of Health, not including vaccines administered at CVS as part of the Federal Pharmacy Partnership.

Of those: 

• 269,279 people have received one dose (partially covered).
• 52,125 people that have received two doses (fully covered).

In the United States, 29,380,125 total doses have been distributed as of Jan. 12, but only about one-third, or 10,278,462, have received the first dose.

Here's what we know so far:

How many vaccinated so far in Franklin County?

As of Jan. 15, 2,245 Franklin County residents have been vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the Department of Health. The number of residents who have received a second dose of the two-dose vaccine series is 413. Individuals must wait 21 to 28 days between doses, depending on the manufacturer.

How do I get a COVID vaccine?

Many individuals in later priority groups and the general public will likely get the vaccine as they get flu shots — at a health care provider or a pharmacy location.

For Phase 1B, there may still be some large regional vaccination sites for workers, but there also will be employer-based vaccine clinics for essential worker populations and vaccines available for high-risk groups at local clinics and pharmacies.

Employers with essential workers will be notified when vaccines become available.

For adults 75 and older not vaccinated at long-term care facilities, the DOH and local officials are working on a range of options, Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said. These could include launching mobile vaccine clinics for homebound individuals and rapid response teams and allocating doses to pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens statewide.

By the time the vaccine hits the general public after the priority groups, distribution should be widespread at places like pharmacies and health care providers.

How much does it cost?

Regardless of whether you have health insurance, the COVID-19 vaccine will be provided to every American at no cost, but health-care providers could charge insurers fees to administer the vaccine or for an office visit.

Can I show up without an appointment?

No, no one is able to get a vaccine without an appointment. The Pennsylvania Department of Health is offering vaccinations in three phases. The first of those phases has begun with healthcare workers in Franklin County. Next will be EMS first responders, people 75 and older, and residents of nursing homes. Plans are being made to then offer vaccinations to critical and essential workers as well as people 65 and older. These plans are all part of phase 1.

Phase 2 in Pennsylvania involves vulnerable populations and those with high-risk health conditions. In Phase 3, access to a safe and effective vaccine will be provided for the entire population, according to the state Department of Health.

Where do I sign up?

Many providers are being enrolled and will be able to administer COVID-19 vaccinations, according to the PA Department of Health. They will be available at some pharmacies, health centers, doctor's offices, urgent care centers, and mass vaccination clinics, but the timeline and a place to sign up for the vaccine have not been specified by the state at this time.

There is no registration available at this time, according to the Department of Health, but when it becomes available, there will be a form to use on the DOH website: www.health.pa.gov.

More:Photos: COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Franklin, Adams counties

Can I call?

You can call the PA Health Hotline at 877-724-3258 for questions related to the vaccine.

Where can I get additional information?

Reach the state's vaccine information dashboard at www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus.

FAQs from the Pennsylvania Department of Health

Q: Why should I get a COVID-19 vaccine?

A: Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools available. Vaccines work with your immune system so your body will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed. Other steps, like wearing masks and social distancing, help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others. Together, COVID-19 vaccination and following the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) recommendations to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from COVID-19.

Q: How much vaccine is available?

A: The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses are minimal. This means that not everyone will be able to be vaccinated right away. It is understandable how concerning this would be for people, especially for those who are at increased risk for serious illness from this virus and for their loved ones. 

The goal is for everyone to be able to easily get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as large quantities are available. Several thousand vaccination providers will be available, including doctor's offices, retail pharmacies, hospitals and federally qualified health centers.

Q: Will the vaccine be mandatory?

A: ​No, the department does not have any plans to make the vaccine mandatory.

Q: Can you get the COVID-19 vaccine outside of your home state?

A: ​Yes, you can get the vaccine outside of your home state. 

For more FAQs, click here.

More:First doses of COVID-19 vaccine arrive at hospitals in Franklin and Adams counties

How will I know when it’s time for me to receive the second dose of vaccine? 

Health officials in Pennsylvania are working to teach providers how to use an electronic system to record vaccinations and track when people are due for a second shot.

For the most part, those who administer the vaccine will work to notify patients to schedule and receive their second shot.

Will I absolutely need a second dose? 

Pfizer's vaccine is believed to be about 95% effective at preventing infection, but this immunity does not take effect overnight. Health care workers who get the vaccine this week will need a second dose in about 21 days, and then it takes another week for the vaccine to provide its maximum effectiveness.

Levine said the state’s electronic immunization tracking system, an essential tool needed to report anonymized data to the federal government.

Additional reporting by Kim Strong and Sam Ruland.

Carley Bonk is a Watchdog Reporter for the USA Today Network - Pennsylvania. Her coverage spans across the southcentral region of Pennsylvania. She can be reached at cbonk@publicopinionnews.com or on Twitter at @carls_marie.