15 Jan Veterinarians and Veterinary Staff Included in Phase 1B of COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Plan
OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM PA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH:
The Pennsylvania Department of Health is working to ensure everyone who wants to get the COVID-19 vaccine can get it.
While the vaccine supply remains limited, our goals are to prioritize vaccinating people to provide maximum community benefits and minimize harms caused by the virus and prioritize vaccinations accordingly.
We want to ensure the vaccine is provided in a way that is ethical, equitable and efficient, which is why Pennsylvania is taking a phased approach to provide the vaccine as fast as it can be manufactured and distributed.
We have heard from a number of veterinarians who are interested to know what phase they are in.
While not specifically spelled out in the state’s interim vaccination plan, we consider veterinarians in Phase 1B of the plan, in the food and agriculture sector as frontline essential workers who maintain services and functions Pennsylvanians depend on daily. Within each sector, this refers to essential workers who cannot work remotely or maintain physical distancing and need to work in close proximity to the public.
In addition, the CDC recently released an interim list of categories of essential workers. In that, veterinary services are also included in the food and agriculture sector in Phase 1B.
Thank you for the work you are doing.