Bucks Co. COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout: Latest Updates

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — Bucks County's fourth public COVID-19 vaccine clinic opened over the past week, with at least one more now on the way.

The new clinic, at Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem, helped the county give a record number of vaccinations on Tuesday, then again on Wednesday.

The increase at county-run clinics came after Bucks County officials say they received a larger shipment of vaccine from the state than they had been receiving. They say if that trend continues, they'll be able to vaccinate residents at a much quicker pace than in the vaccination rollouts troubled early weeks.

Meanwhile, Bucks County commissioners approved yet another public vaccination clinic, this one at the former Giant supermarket in Warwick. Targeted for an April opening, it would technically become Bucks County's sixth public vaccine site.

Space at St. Luke's Quakertown campus was reserved earlier this month, but has not been used because there has not been enough vaccine to do so, officials said.

In what could be more promising news, Pennsylvania officials said they received larger vaccine shipments from the federal government over the past week than they'd been getting. And state health officials said they are committed to opening a mass vaccination center somewhere in southeast Pennsylvania.

Vaccinations To Date

As of Friday, more than 172,000 vaccination shots had been administered in Bucks County, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

According to health department data, 67,173 people in Bucks County had been partially vaccinated, while another 57,762 had gotten both doses of two-dose vaccines.

How To Sign Up

Bucks County has created an online hub for information on the coronavirus vaccine. The hub contains detailed information on who is eligible to be vaccinated under each of the state plan's four phases.

On it, there's a form letting residents register for the vaccine. Once registered, residents will be contacted to schedule a vaccination appointment once sufficient supplies arrive, officials said.

Click Here To Register For A COVID-19 Vaccination In Bucks County

Anyone in Bucks County with internet access is encouraged to register for a vaccination online. But, for those who do not have internet access, there is another way. In Bucks County, residents may register for a vaccination by calling the county's coronavirus helpline at 1-800-383-0371.

Where To Get The Vaccine In Bucks County

Invitations are being sent out by email, offering appointments at the county clinics for people who registered with the county.

Bucks County hospitals also have begun registering members of the public to receive the vaccine. St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne now is accepting online registrations from people older than 65 and those 16 or older with existing health conditions.

Doylestown Health Vaccine Appointments

Patients who have received care from any Doylestown Health physician (primary care and/or specialist) are automatically preregistered through the health system's electronic medical record and prioritized based on their highest risk medical conditions. Patients will be contacted at the appropriate time to schedule their appointment. Additional public reservations for first doses will open in the near future. Click here for more information.

Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol also has opened a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for members of the public and Doylestown Health offers five ways to sign up for a vaccination.

See The St. Mary Medical Center COVID-19 Vaccine Form Here

Pharmacies throughout Bucks County also have begun receiving and giving the free vaccinations.

Find A Coronavirus Vaccine Site Near Me: Pennsylvania

Who Is Eligible To Get The Vaccine Now?

Bucks County, like the rest of Pennsylvania, remains in Phase 1A of the state's four-phase rollout of the coronavirus vaccine. Originally, that meant the only people eligible for a vaccine were healthcare workers and residents and employees of nursing homes and other care facilities.

But state officials dramatically increased the number of Pennsylvanians eligible for the vaccine during the initial phase. Everyone 65 and older, along with residents 16 or older who have health conditions that put them at high risk from the virus immediately were made eligible, adding about 3.5 million Pennsylvania residents to the list of those eligible for the shots.

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