One million Pennsylvanians received COVID-19 vaccine; officials say it is safe, effective

HARRISBURG, Pa. — One million Pennsylvanians have received the COVID-19 vaccine, Health Secretary Rachael Levine said Tuesday, as she stressed its safety and effectiveness during a news conference.

Pennsylvania is in its fifth week of distributing vaccines to people in phase 1A of their vaccination plan.

“Our mission to immunize any Pennsylvanian who wants a vaccine continues,” Dr. Levine said.

[Here is how to stay informed about coronavirus updates from WPXI]

Dr. Cynthia Chuang, chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, talked about the safety of the vaccine, and dispelled myths such as that the vaccine can’t be safe because it was developed so quickly.

“I am here to tell you that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe to use, and very good at protecting people who are vaccinated,” Gov. Tom Wolf said. “If you hear a rumor about COVID-19 from a friend, or see something online that concerns you, take a few minutes to verify the information before you get too worried. Five minutes of fact-checking can save you and your loved ones a lot of worry.”

Aggressive testing for COVID-19 continues across Pennsylvania. So far, nearly 9 million tests have been processed. Regional testing sites, including the location in Clarion County, will conclude Saturday.

Misconception about COVID-19 vaccines in Pennsylvania addressed by Secretary of Health

Cox Media Group