Allegheny County will launch a new vaccine registration system next week, officials announced on Wednesday.
The system will allow residents to sign up for a covid-19 vaccine, receive notifications when they become eligible, and prevent ineligible individuals from making appointments in the meantime.
The system will reduce the number of canceled appointments at vaccination sites, said county executive Rich Fitzgerald.
The system will allow single-use links to specific clinics targeting specific populations.
Details on how to register for the new system were not announced on Wednesday; officials said it will happen next week.
The old system, which Fitzgerald said came from the state, has been a challenge for the county during the vaccine implantation. Many residents described having problems navigating the system, with delays on the site and accessibility problems for those who do not have computers or technology knowledge.
Registry changes to start Friday
Online registration under the old system will end at 9 am on Friday, and registration over the phone by the 2-1-1 system will end at 5 pm the same day, said Fitzgerald.
Overall, more than 370,000 people are at least partially vaccinated in Allegheny County, according to the Department of Health. Dr. Debra Bogen, director of health for Allegheny County, said that of 74,000 fully vaccinated individuals in the county, there were only 31 “innovative” covid-19 cases – meaning 31 fully vaccinated individuals contracted covid at least 14 days after receiving the second dose.
This represents less than 0.05% of people vaccinated, which Bogen said was “positive news for the vaccine’s effectiveness”.
Across the state, vaccinations are increasing. More than 4.5 million doses have been administered in total, according to the Department of Health, totaling more than 3 million people. Pennsylvania had already ranked among the slowest states for its speed of vaccine delivery, but last month it jumped from the 30th to the 17th, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In a press release, Governor Tom Wolf credited the improvement with an order requiring providers to administer 80% of a vaccine allocated within seven days after receiving it. This request, among other new mandates designed to accelerate the launch, was issued about a month ago.
Still, greedy cases increasing
In Allegheny County, however, progress comes amid an increase in cases and hospitalizations. The county health department on Wednesday reported 498 new infections, and only about 13 of them were more than a week old.
The county test’s positivity rate has risen to 6% in the past week, Bogen said.
Bogen attributed the new cases to more frequent and larger encounters, along with the increased prevalence of more transmissible variants.
“From our case investigations, we hear that people are meeting with friends in larger groups than they were a few weeks ago,” said Bogen. “And many of the meetings are without masks. There are large groups in many different establishments and less physical distance than recommended. ”
So far, added Bogen, there are at least 33 known cases of the United Kingdom variant (B117) in County Allegheny.
She noted that cases are becoming more prevalent among younger populations – similar to an increase in infections that occurred last June.
The median age of cases is now in the 30s, as cases among those aged 5 to 18 years increase, while those among residents 65 and over decrease.
This is probably due to the fact that more people in older age groups are being vaccinated, said Bogen. In the past week, more than 65% of people aged 65 and over have received at least one dose, she said.
The authorities pleaded with residents to continue to follow public health guidelines and to remain vigilant, even as vaccine distribution increased.
“It’s not just hospitalizations and fatalities, which are obviously the most terrible things,” said Fitzgerald. “But people are getting this disease, which lasts a long time with certain people. Although they may not be hospitalized, it is certainly affecting their life, their quality of life, their ability to do things.
“So be careful, wear your mask, stay away.”
Teghan Simonton is a staff writer for the Tribune-Review. You can contact Teghan at 724-226-4680, [email protected] or via Twitter .
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