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Many long-term care facilities, hospitals in Pennsylvania now getting COVID-19 vaccines

PITTSBURGH — Since the FDA and federal approval of Pfizer’s and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines, the rollout has been well underway over the past few weeks.

In Pennsylvania, many hospital networks, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities have started to receive vaccines for front-line workers, residents and patients.

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The rollout is being done in stages, and it will take time for each facility -- and then the general public -- to get vaccinated for COVID-19.

For a complete look at the Pa. Department of Health’s plan for vaccinations, CLICK HERE.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY

UPMC

UPMC said it is prepared to receive “thousands if not tens of thousands” COVID-19 vaccines in the coming weeks. Many of its hospitals have already begun to administer the vaccine to workers, including UPMC Presbyterian.

Allegheny Health Network

AHN is distributing the vaccine to frontline caregivers across all its hospitals.

The health network’s distribution plan includes a phased approach to vaccination, starting with the most vulnerable populations. Officials said it was developed in accordance with recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Kane Living Center - Multiple locations

The pandemic has been a journey for nursing homes as they navigated their way through the challenges for the past nine months. But vaccinations for all four Kane locations will begin the first week of January for staff and patients.

If everyone at the Kane centers were to be vaccinated, there would be more than 700 residents and almost 950 employees -- not including outside staff and contractors.

Officials are trying to encourage as many people as possible to agree to receive the vaccine and answer any questions they may have.

Right now, employees and patients who choose not to get vaccinated will still be encouraged to take mitigation efforts like hand washing and social distancing.

Vincentian senior living communities

Most of Vicentian’s locations are receiving the COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the first week of January.

The first dose of the vaccine is being administered by CVS Omnicare workers.

BUTLER COUNTY

Butler Health System

Butler Health System received doses of the vaccine for Butler Memorial Hospital and Clarion Hospital.

WESTMORELAND COUNTY

Excela Health System

Excela Health has close to 1,000 doses of the vaccine that will begin being administered to employees at its hospitals in Greensburg, Mt. Pleasant and Latrobe.

Westmoreland Manor

Westmoreland Manor went months without any coronavirus cases, and then it had so many that the National Guard had to come in and help. Now, it is one of the many facilities to start administering vaccinations to staff and residents.

In Westmoreland County, about half of the area’s total deaths and cases throughout the pandemic have come just in the month of December.

Westmoreland Manor’s struggles started in September, when a massive outbreak sidelined staff and residents. A total of 167 residents and 80 workers have been infected with the virus since then, along with seven deaths.

CVS health workers are helping administer the first dose of the vaccine. More than half of the 307 residents opted to get the vaccine (125 staff, 230 residents).

On Monday, 105 vaccines were given out. Officials there hope this will bring things back to normal.