Bucks County COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout: Latest Updates

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — The nationwide halt to distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for COVID-19 put a dent this week in Bucks County's efforts to vaccinate its residents. But despite the holdup — prompted by concerns after a handful of recipients had health problems afterward — a healthy supply of other vaccines helped Bucks set new records for vaccine distribution.

On Tuesday, Bucks County canceled all appointments at its mass-vaccine site in Warwick. The closure at the clinic, which exclusively gives the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, came after the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Food and Drug Administration called for a pause.

The agencies are investigating instances of blood clots. Six patients — all women between ages 18-48 — have reported blood clots out of more than 6.8 million Johnson & Johnson doses administered.

Late Wednesday, Bucks County announced the clinic's closure would continue through the end of the week. In all, roughly 6,500 appointments at the clinic were postponed.

The Warwick site is the only one of Bucks County's five mass-vaccination clinics that has been giving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. And even though the pause was a setback, a healthy vaccine supply has helped Bucks County significantly ramp up its efforts.

Bucks County's four other mass-vaccination sites — on Bucks County Community College campuses in Bristol, Newtown and Quakertown and at Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem — are using the two-dose Pfizer vaccine.

On Tuesday, those sites set a single-day record, giving 3,401 vaccine doses. They're on pace to give roughly 14,000 shots this week, officials said.

Monday, Bucks County had announced that it is no longer maintaining a waiting list for a coronavirus vaccination and that anyone 16 or older may now make an appointment for a shot.

And, by week's end, a population equivalent to 43 percent of Bucks County's adult residents had gotten at least one dose of vaccine.

Vaccinations To Date

By Friday, all Bucks County providers had vaccinated 126,892 people and another 88,340 had gotten the first dose of a two-dose vaccine.

How To Sign Up

Bucks County has eliminated its waiting list, meaning everyone 16 and older is eligible to make an appointment for a coronavirus vaccination.

You can register for a vaccine in Bucks County here.

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 is running vaccine clinics at three Bucks County Community College campuses — in Bristol, Newtown and Quakertown — as well as one at Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem and the aforementioned clinic in Warwick Township.

Other providers in the county include hospitals and pharmacies. St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne is accepting online registrations.

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

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. Doylestown Health offers five ways to sign up for a vaccination.

Find A Coronavirus Vaccine Site Near Me: Pennsylvania

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