Last Updated: Feb 12, 2021
Independent physicians, particularly primary care providers, have expressed concern that they feel they are being cut out of the state's vaccine distribution plan. On Feb. 17, 2021, PAMED sent a letter to Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam
asking for clarification on behalf of our members.
Independent physicians, particularly primary care providers, have expressed concern that they feel they are being cut out of the state's vaccine distribution plan. On Feb. 17, 2021, PAMED sent a letter to Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam asking for clarification on behalf of our members. Read the letter to Secretary Beam here.
On March 1, 2021, PAMED received a response from Acting Secretary Beam, in which she offered the following clarifications/response:
- The Pa. Department of Health (DOH) is extremely grateful to the health care providers who have enrolled as vaccine providers to date, including physician offices. Pennsylvania has more than 1,800 vaccine providers currently enrolled and DOH will not be removing them from the list of enrolled vaccine providers.
- Due to the limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines, DOH is focusing on efficiency and concentration within the provider network at this time. As more vaccine becomes available, it will revisit its distribution plan and call upon more enrolled providers to deliver this life saving medicine to Pennsylvanians.
- Patients should receive their second dose of vaccine where they received their first dose. The order dated February 12, 2021, was directive to first doses. Second doses are secure and providers who administered first doses should request second doses at the appropriate intervals.
You can read Secretary Beam's full response letter here.
PAMED will continue to collaborate with DOH throughout the pandemic. PAMED is currently working with DOH to schedule a webinar where the Secretary of Health will answer PAMED questions and address your continued concerns.
On Feb. 12, 2021, Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam issued a new Order to increase the administration of vaccine dosages received, ensure ease of scheduling appointments, reinforce specific reporting by vaccine providers, and ensure accountability in providers’ adherence to vaccine priorities.
Note: The only exclusions to the Order are vaccine providers whose provider agreement is with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and facilities owned or operated by the federal government, including facilities operated by the
federal Department of Veterans Affairs.
The updated requirements for vaccine providers under the Feb. 12 Order include:
- At a minimum, vaccine providers must administer 80 percent of their first doses of vaccine received within seven days of receipt of those doses.
- Vaccine providers must follow all requirements and recommendations in the COVID-19 Interim Vaccination Plan.
- Vaccine providers must adhere to the current phase of Pennsylvania’s vaccine rollout, as defined by the department.
- Vaccine providers giving a two-dose vaccine shall provide the COVID-19 vaccine reminder card with a date for a return appointment for the second dose of vaccine.
- Vaccine providers giving a two-dose vaccine must make every appropriate effort to ensure available appointments for second doses, including, but not limited to, designating appointment times for second doses or scheduling
second doses at the time of first dose administration, or both.
- Vaccine providers must have both an online and a phone-based registration system for direct appointment scheduling. Information on these systems must be made available to the department so it can be posted online.
- Vaccine providers must report the following:
- Vaccinations and the information required by the Order Requiring Reporting of Data Related to Each Administration of an Immunization for COVID-19,
dated Dec. 15, 2020, on each vaccine administered, including race and ethnicity of the recipient, whether or not the recipient is connected to the vaccine provider.
- Within 24 hours of receipt of inventory or administration of a vaccine, vaccine providers shall report:
- Receipt of shipments of COVID-19 immunization inventory;
- Reduction in inventory levels as vaccines are administered; and
- Reconciliation of inventory levels.
When does the Order take effect?
- The online and phone-based registration system requirements (Section 3(A)(1) and (2) of the Order) is effective beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 19, 2021.
- The allocation enforcement (Section 5 of the Order) is effective beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 22, 2021.
- The remainder of this Order takes effect immediately.
The Pa. Department of Health (DOH) published FAQs on the Order. You can also read DOH’s press release on the Order here.
The Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) continues to advocate on behalf of health care providers and their patients during the pandemic. Access our COVID-19 Resource Center for more information at www.pamedsoc.org/coronavirus. Members can also sign up here for text/email alerts where there are COVID-19-related news or resources to
share.