A registration link is now open at VaccinateLancaster.org for Lancaster County's community vaccination center.
"We have received confirmation of over 5,000 doses to arrive later this week and remain on track for our soft opening on Wednesday," said Brett Marcy, spokesman for the Vaccinate Lancaster Coalition.
Registration can be accomplished online or by phone at 717-588-1020. The coalition expects high web traffic and call volumes at first, and is asking those seeking appointments for their understanding and patience.
Marcy confirmed that vaccinations will follow the eligibility guidelines in the Pennsylvania Department of Health's vaccination plan. Pennsylvania is currently in Phase 1A, which means individuals over age 65 and those with qualifying medical conditions are eligible.
The coalition's goal, which is continent on having a sufficient supply of vaccine, is to ramp up after a short "pilot" period to the site's full capacity of around 6,000 doses a day.
Here is the coalition's full announcement:
Registration now open for Lancaster County Community Vaccination Center
Registration is now open for the Lancaster County Community Vaccination Center’s limited public opening on Wednesday, March 10.
The vaccination center is located at the former Bon-Ton department store at Park City Center in Lancaster. The center is offering vaccinations by appointment only.
Officials with the Vaccinate Lancaster Coalition are reminding the public that the center will have limited availability to schedule appointments, based on the supply of vaccines currently available from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
“We appreciate the significant demand in our community for COVID-19 vaccines, which is why our coalition has worked tirelessly over the past few months to make this community vaccination center a reality,” said Dr. Michael Ripchinski, chief clinical officer with Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, lead healthcare partner for the Vaccinate Lancaster Coalition. “We are committed to doing all we can to get shots into arms as quickly as possible, but that is completely dependent on the supply of vaccines from the Department of Health.”
Individuals can register for a future appointment online at VaccinateLancaster.org. Click on “Lancaster Co. Community Vaccination Center” and then click on “Register for a Vaccination Appointment.”
A phone line is also available for those with limited Internet access or other barriers to online registration. Individuals may call the COVID-19 registration and scheduling line at (717) 588-1020. The phone line will be staffed Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Language translation services will also be available through the call center.
“We expect call volumes will be high, and our lines may get overwhelmed quickly,” Ripchinski said. “We ask everyone to please be patient as we work to meet the significant demand for vaccinations. If you cannot get through to a specialist or are unable to register online, please keep trying. We will do our best to accommodate everyone as quickly as possible.”
The Lancaster County Community Vaccination Center will be open – by appointment only – from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. Patients with scheduled appointments are asked to arrive no more than 20 minutes prior to their appointment and to wear loose-fitting clothing that allows easy access to the upper arm. Individuals with mobility-assistive devices should feel free to bring them.
The vaccination center is planned and operated by the Vaccinate Lancaster Coalition, which includes the Lancaster County government, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, Penn State Health, UPMC, WellSpan Health and the Lancaster City and County Medical Society.
Rock Lititz is managing on-site logistics at the center, while TriStarr Staffing is managing staff recruitment. Brookfield Properties is the site location partner for the center.
The center will begin with fewer than 1,000 vaccinations per day and will gradually increase capacity as vaccine availability improves. The center is designed to accommodate up to 6,000 vaccinations per day.
For more information on the Vaccinate Lancaster Coalition and the Lancaster County Community Vaccination Center, visit VaccinateLancaster.org.
