‘There is a light at the end of the tunnel,’ Gov. Wolf says of COVID-19 vaccine rollout

Saturday marks one year since Pennsylvania reported its first cases of COVID-19.

In that time, there have been more than 800,000 cases and more than 24,000 deaths.

In a sign of improvement, Governor Tom Wolf visited a Rite-Aid near Harrisburg Friday, where vaccines are being given.

Wolf touted Pennsylvania’s latest expansion of vaccine eligibility this week, which now prioritizes pre-K through 12 educators and childcare workers using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

While more doses are coming in, Pennsylvania remains in the middle of the pack nationwide when it comes to getting vaccines into arms.

But there’s confidence those numbers will continue to improve as vaccines become more widely available in the coming weeks.

“The first, maybe it’s the second thing we deal with on the agenda at every one of our Covid Task Force meetings is trying to get the vaccines out more quickly. What you’ll see is we are moving up in the ranks,” Gov. Wolf said.

“As more doses become available, we will expand access for residents of Pennsylvania by adding to our administering locations,” said Jocelyn Konrad, Rite-Aid’s chief pharmacy officer.

Rite-Aid, Topco, and Walmart have agreed to vaccinate childcare workers with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, a process that’s already underway.

Pre-K through 12 educators and their staff are being vaccinated through local Intermediate Units.

Those clinics are scheduled to begin operating next week.

Plan in place to get Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to teachers in Pennsylvania

Cox Media Group