Gov. Tom Wolf highlighted efforts to bring the Covid-19 vaccine to homebound individuals during a briefing Monday morning in Reading.
"We are committed to finding every way to reach Pennsylvanians who cannot leave their homes and give them equitable access to the Covid-19 vaccine," Wolf said.
Across the state, Area Agencies on Aging have been working with local providers to reach homebound individuals. On Monday, acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam added provisions covering homebound people to the state's order on vaccine distribution and administration.
The order now requires vaccine providers to schedule appointments for any homebound individuals referred to them by an Area Agency on Aging or a Medical Assistance Managed Care Organization.
Lancaster County's area agency, the Office of Aging, is arranging home vaccination appointments in partnership with Lancaster EMS, and has reached more than 50 people already.
State officials did not have an estimate of the number of homebound Pennsylvanians needing vaccination, but said Pennsylvania will employ "all means of outreach" to assist them.
Wolf said the state is working with housing associations, nursing care providers, federally qualified health centers such as Lancaster's Union Community Care, and other groups to connect homebound individuals with vaccine providers.
“If you or someone you care about can’t leave home and wants to be vaccinated, please reach out to the Department of Health, your local Area Agency on Aging, or the Department of Human Services for help obtaining a vaccine appointment,” Wolf said.
