It took just three hours on January 20 for the Allentown Health Bureau to fill two weeks of appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The Health Bureau is alerting the public to procedures put in place to schedule an appointment during the next opportunity.

The number of available appointments is dependent on the delivery of vaccine doses.  Appointments fill very rapidly.  It is anticipated that appointments will be opened each Thursday at 9 a.m. beginning on Thursday, January 28 for appointments that will begin in 11 days, or in this case the week of Monday, February 8.

On January 19, the Pennsylvania Department of Health expanded eligibility for people to receive COVID-19 vaccinations in the state.

All individuals 65 and older, and individuals ages 16-64 with certain medical conditions, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that increase the risk of severe illness from the virus, are eligible immediately for the COVID-19 vaccination. Those conditions are outlined by the CDC and are listed below:

• Cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Down Syndrome
• Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant, blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines.
• Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m² or higher but < 40 kg/m²)
• Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²)
• Pregnancy
• Sickle cell disease
• Smoking
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Vaccinations will begin at the Agri-Plex complex at the Allentown Fairgrounds on Monday, January 25, 2021.

Click here www.allentownpaclinics.com on Thursday, January 28 and any Thursday thereafter for the On-Line Reservation System and follow instructions for exact dates and locations to schedule an appointment AS LONG AS THEY ARE AVAILABLE.

Identification with proof of age is required at the vaccination site.  Those who do not provide the necessary information will be turned away.

Individuals qualifying because of underlying medical conditions are not required to bring proof of medical conditions to obtain a vaccine but should talk to their provider beforehand to see if vaccination is appropriate for them.

The Allentown Health Bureau administers the Moderna vaccine which is only for persons 18 years of age and older.

At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech product is approved for those age 16 and 17 and is not available through the Health Bureau.

At this time appointments can only be sought on-line.  Those who cannot schedule on line can email clinicalcommunicabledisease@allentownpa.gov on Thursdays and someone will call them to assist with scheduling.  Sending an email does not guarantee that you will get an appointment.  Again, appointments fill-up very quickly.

If you show up at a site without an appointment, you will not receive a vaccine.

Initially the vaccine was only available to those licensed medical professionals & care staff including but not limited to: EMS professionals, dentists, podiatrists, dermatologists, ophthalmologists, primary care physicians, etc.  And home health agency staff including hospice, visiting nurses, physical therapy, occupational health, home health aides, etc.

Information provided to TVL by:
Mike Moore
Communications Manager
Mayor’s Office
435 Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18101
Mike.Moore@allentownpa.gov
http://www.AllentownPA.gov

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