Fayette County asks groups to register in preparation for expanded coronavirus vaccinations

Fayette County businesses, agencies and other groups are being asked to register with the county emergency management agency in preparation for upcoming eligibility for the coronavirus vaccine, according to an announcement.

Several Fayette County officials this week met as a coronavirus vaccine planning task force to coordinate a local response to inoculation efforts.

The task force is asking groups that will have access to the vaccine in Phase 1B of the state’s plan — including first responders and manufacturing and education workers — establish one person as a point of contact. That person should register their group with the county emergency management agency by emailing covidinfo@fcema.org, according to the officials.

Once the vaccine is available to that organization, an agency official will contact the group’s leader and provide more information about how to get immunized. Any local pharmacy wishing to become a provider should contact covidinfo@fcema.org.

A handful of pharmacies in Fayette County are listed as providers by the state.

Members of the task force urged patience because, while the state expanded the groups of people eligible to get the vaccine this week, there is not enough supply currently. Hospital, skilled nursing facility and other health care and long-term care workers and residents started receiving the shots in December. People 65 and older and those 16 to 64 with certain health conditions are now eligible to get the vaccine under Phase 1A of the state’s plan.

Nearly 2,300 people in Fayette County have gotten the first shot of the vaccine, according to state health department data. Almost 1,500 have gotten both shots for full protection.

Members of the task force are: the county commissioners, Fayette County Emergency Management Agency, Uniontown and Highlands hospitals, Fayette EMS, Fayette Chamber of Commerce, the local intermediate unite and Sen. Pat Stefano.