Philly Suburbs Got Less COVID Vaccine: State Data

The suburban counties around Philadelphia have received fewer doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, per capita, than some smaller counties throughout Pennsylvania, according to analysis of state data.

By Tuesday, political leaders from Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties were saying they've been assured by the state that will change soon.

According to Pennsylvania Department of Health data, those four suburban counties rank low on a list of vaccine doses received per 100,000 people in Pennsylvania. Montgomery ranks highest at 20th, followed by Chester at 29th, Bucks at 34th and Delaware way back, at 53rd.

A Philadelphia Inquirer analysis published Monday first showed that the counties were getting less vaccine per capita than many smaller, rural counties in Pennsylvania.

For example, Montour, Elk, Mifflin and Mercer counties were the top four in doses received compared to overall population. Mercer has a population of about 109,000 people, while the other three range from about 18,000 (Montour) to roughly 46,000 (Mifflin).

By comparison, Chester, the smallest of the four Philadelphia suburbs, has more than 566,000 residents while the largest, Montgomery, has more than 830,000.

Here is a breakdown of the doses per 100,000 residents in the four counties:

• Montgomery County: 17,667 doses per 100,000
• Chester County: 14,748 doses per 100,000
• Bucks County: 13,103 doses per 100,000
• Delaware County: 9,113 doses per 100,000

To compare, here are those same rates in the top four counties in the state, based on doses per 100,000:

• Montour County: 164,153 doses per 100,000
• Elk County: 45,721 doses per 100,000
• Mifflin County: 37,713 doses per 100,000
• Mercer County: 35,550 doses per 100,000

On Monday, U.S. Congress members from the area met virtually with Pennsylvania Department of Health officials. According to the lawmakers, state officials acknowledged the issue and said they would be sending more vaccine to fix it.

U.S. Reps. Madeleine Dean, Chrissy Houlihan and Mary Gay Scanlon had a call with acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Alison Beam, the Inquirer reported.

Late Monday, Bucks County's government said in a social media post that "an expected increase in COVID vaccine supply" would help it double the number of daily vaccinations being delivered at its three public clinics.

Delaware County Council Vice Chairwoman Monica Taylor, speaking to the Inquirer, called the news promising, saying she'll "take them at their word and hope for the best and continue to push on it."

For more local coverage on the coronavirus vacccine, visit our Pennsylvania vaccine information page.

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