An amended state order requires all vaccine providers to schedule appointments for anyone eligible in Phase 1A, writes David Mekeel for the Reading Eagle.
Providers who have received first dose allocations at least within the last two weeks will no longer be able to tell eligible recipients that appointments aren’t available.
Instead, appointments by phone and online must be scheduled, even if it’s weeks away.
“Under this order, a vaccine provider that informs a Phase 1A individual that no appointments are available may be subject to enforcement,” a statement announcing the order read.
Violators could have their vaccine supply temporarily reduced or suspended.
Maggi Barton, Department of Health deputy press secretary, said a more reliable flow of vaccine means providers can make long-term appointments.
“Rather than limit appointments to the number of doses they have on hand, providers are now able to safely schedule weeks in advance so that people will have a date and time certain for when they will be able to receive their vaccine.”
Some waiting lists are hundreds of thousands of names long. Some providers are only scheduling appointments short-term when they know how many doses they will receive each week.
Read more at the Reading Eagle about vaccine scheduling.
