Westmoreland vaccine registry on hold

Westmoreland County commissioners’ plan to create a covid-19 vaccine registry is on hold as county leaders search out a potential third party to help craft a waiting list for inoculations.

Commissioners said Monday Excela Health will not participate in the creation of a registry and that it is unlikely the county can do so on its own.

“We are looking for a third party to step in and help the county out, one that understands the process and (health privacy) concerns,” Commissioner Sean Kertes said.

Amid public outcry over difficulties in finding available vaccine appointments, commissioners earlier this month called on Excela to help formulate a registry to assist Westmoreland County seniors and other residents to register for covid-19 vaccines, which have been in relatively short supply over the past two months.

Hospitals, medical centers and pharmacies have been administering vaccines to medical professionals and seniors older than 65 since late December, but access to appointments is limited and hard to find for many. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, nearly 15,000 Westmoreland County residents have received both vaccination doses required for inoculation. More than 27,300 residents have their first dose.

“The facts of the matter are that Excela simply does not have the internal resources to manage a registry of this magnitude,” said Excela’s chief medical officer, Dr. Carol Fox, in a statement. “Moreover, with the present inconsistent and unpredictable supply of vaccine, creating a registry gives rise to the distinct possibility for multiple appointment cancellations, missed vaccines and added confusion to an already difficult process. Evidence of this can be seen in Beaver County, where they are now canceling appointments due to a lack of vaccine.”

Excela for the past yearhas served as the county’s medical adviser during the pandemic and continues to operate a coronavirus testing center while providing vaccinations for staff and, so far, a limited number of seniors.

Fox said the hospital will continue to work with county leaders and recently expanded its vaccination effort to include taking appointments by telephone when supplies allow and seeking out those who are most vulnerable to the coronavirus to receive doses.

“We will continue to adapt our approach as a more reliable and consistent supply of vaccines is evident,” Fox said.

Commissioners said state health officials have recommended against the county working without help from medical professionals to put together waiting lists for vaccines.

Other counties moved forward with vaccine registries, including Fayette County, which is working with West Virginia University Medicine Uniontown Hospital to create its waiting list.

Westmoreland Commissioner Doug Chew blamed Excela’s decision on the slow flow of information from the state’s health department regarding future vaccine distributions and potential liability issues.

“At this time, with so many possible changes on the horizon, it doesn’t make sense for anyone to have a registry,” Chew said.

Commissioner Gina Cerilli said additional talks with pharmacies and other potential vaccine distributors are ongoing and will continue this week. She said she still wants the county to create a vaccine registry even if the county must do so itself.

“I want the providers to only worry about vaccinating our constituents and not worrying about their own individual waiting lists,” Cerilli said. “However, like everything in the commissioners office, it takes two commissioner votes. I do not believe I have a strong second vote to get this done for our senior citizens.”

Kertes said commissioners will turn their attention to planning for potential mass vaccination sites once enough doses become available to do so. Mass vaccinations could be held at county parks or other easily accessible locations, he said, noting there is no immediate plan to hold such a clinic.