Bucks Co. Officials Answer Questions on COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — Bucks County officials recently heard questions and comments from local residents frustrated with the rocky rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine during a telephone town hall Tuesday.

AARP Pennsylvania State President Joanne Grossi was joined on the one-hour conference call by Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie, County Health Director David Damsker and County Interim Director of Emergency Services Audrey Kelly.

Officials heard from county residents who have become confused and exasperated with the process of securing a vaccine appointment. State and local officials share their concerns, as evidenced by a recent joint statement issued by leaders in Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties calling on the state health department to increase their vaccine supply.

Alyssa, a 73-year-old grocery store cashier in Doylestown, said she has "no idea" how to get an appointment and frequently encounters customers who don't think mask-wearing is necessary.

Damsker directed her to sign up at the county's online pre-registration portal, but noted that the area health care providers such as Doylestown Health are also scheduling vaccine appointments, along with pharmacies like CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens.

"You have to sort of be an Internet sleuth to figure out some of it," Damsker acknowledged.

People without Internet access can call 215-345-3318 to get on the county's waiting list, Damsker added.

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

Aaron, of Southampton, is a Bucks County resident living in Florida for the winter. He's been offered the COVID-19 vaccine but was unsure whether he'd be able to get his second shot in Bucks County.

Damsker recommended the man get his first shot, as even one dose provides significant protection against hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

"The worst case scenario is you have to wait longer for your second dose," he said.

Nancy, of Chalfont, asked what other counties in Pennsylvania have done differently to secure greater quantities of the vaccine.

"It certainly has been frustrating for us," Harvie said. "Some counties getting large doses has to do with heal care systems. Lehigh and Northampton counties have double the number of health care workers, so early on, counties that had big hospital systems ended up getting a lot of doses."

Damsker asked residents to remain patient as he expects the county's vaccine supply to increase significantly in the coming weeks.

"When you get your vaccine that should be your ticket to do the things you’ve been missing to do," he said. "We are seeing our way out of this."

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