Officials: UPMC 'absolutely prepared' to give more covid vaccinations

UPMC officials said Tuesday they are “absolutely prepared” to distribute more covid-19 shots now that the federal government has encouraged states not to hold back vaccines reserved for second doses and to prioritize anyone age 65 and up.

“We are absolutely prepared to administer those vaccines,” Chief Quality Officer Tami Minnier said. “What we need is the vaccine.”

The guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention comes on the heels of the prior day’s announcement from the Pennsylvania secretary of health that the next phase of vaccination would be coming “soon.”

About 18% of Pennsylvania’s population is 65 or older, according to census estimates.

Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine gave little information about when that rollout could come or what it would look like. UPMC officials said only that they are “looking forward to additional information” from the Department of Health on what the Phase 1B rollout will look like.

Minnier said the health care system supports the CDC recommendation that states not hold back second doses, saying officials were “thrilled” to hear of the decision.

“We do believe that we have the systems and processes in place to take that vaccine and get it in the arms of the right patients and the right people in our community,” she said.

The health care giant has vaccinated half of its frontline health care workers. Officials said Tuesday they hope to have vaccinated every employee who wants the vaccine by the end of the month.

At least 41,700 UPMC employees have received the first dose of the covid vaccine, officials said. About 9,000 have received the second of the two-dose regimen.

Along with 1,300 residents of UPMC’s long-term care facilities and 2,300 EMS and other non-employed frontline workers, officials said they hope to start getting the vaccine to other first responders, such as police and firefighters, in the communities around UPMC’s locations.