Frustration rises among Pennsylvania residents trying to find the COVID-19 vaccine

EXTON, Pennsylvania (WPVI) – On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health launched the “Your Turn” vaccine eligibility tool, which aims to help people understand where they are in the priority vaccine line. However, some Pennsylvania citizens say the problem is not being able to find a vaccine.

“First I tried the number they gave. It rang, played and played,” said Gigi Lewis of West Oak Lane. “He answered and then hung up. So I said, ‘Okay, let’s go online.’ (I) I went online, filled out the form and was told that I would be on the waiting list, someone would contact me. I never heard from anyone, it’s been a month. “

Thousands of people from Pennsylvania have joined a Facebook group called PA COVID Vaccine Match Maker, where members share advice on how to vaccinate phase 1A individuals.

Dr. Christine Meyer of Exton Internal Medicine created the group on Facebook and said her office had received thousands of emails and hundreds of phone calls from people begging for the vaccine.

“There is a treatment. What they are asking for exists and is incredible, and it saves lives, and it is being produced and in areas outside of ours, it is not that difficult, ”she said.

Meyer said members help each other find vaccination schedules and share information, such as when pharmacies have open hours.

“It’s a crowdsourcing zone where people are just posting tips and tricks for success,” said Meyer.

6abc Action News found the latest vaccine numbers:

Pennsylvania

– 1,049,609 people received their first dose
– 302,639 people received their second dose

New Jersey

– 842,971 people received their first dose
– 242,362 people received their second dose

Delaware

– 126,615 people received the vaccine (without additional data)

On Tuesday, Philadelphia health commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said things were looking up.

“This week, we are receiving 10,700 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and the allocation of the Modern vaccine is 14,400, from just over 10,000 before,” said Farley.

Farley said the city of Philadelphia does not want to create a drive-through stadium vaccination site because residents of Delaware and New Jersey will enjoy the site. In the past, Mayor Jim Kenney said that a drive-thru vaccination site limits residents who don’t have cars.

The federal government also gave Pennsylvania more than $ 1.6 million to create mass vaccination sites.