LEBANON COUNTY
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LEBANON COUNTY
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LEBANON COUNTY
COVID-19 VACCINATION INFORMATION
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In accordance with the PA Department of Health’s recent revisions to its vaccination guidelines, Lebanon County DES will not be able to coordinate vaccinations for individuals that are not essential workers or first responders. For those individuals, the PA Department of Health has created a website ( https://www.health.pa.gov/ ) to assist in finding a provider and scheduling a vaccination. Vaccinations are being scheduled directly with vaccine providers and Lebanon County DES cannot assist in this process. We will continue to send out emails and update our website with information as it becomes available specific to Lebanon County.
If you have previously signed up through our portal and are not an essential worker or first responder in phase 1A, 1B, or 1C please utilize the state’s portal for further guidance in finding a vaccination provider. We understand that vaccine availability in Lebanon County is currently very limited for these groups. We will continue to push to expand that availability and will notify as things change.
For all essential workers, we will continue to prioritize and coordinate vaccines with providers. If you are able to get vaccinated through another provider or are being vaccinated under the new 1A risk groups, please notify us so that we can remove you from our list. Essential workers under 1B and 1C should be advised that the changes to the states plan have introduced significant delays in vaccine rollout to these groups. We expect phase 1A to continue for at least another 4 weeks as of this writing, potentially longer depending on vaccine availability. We will continue to provide updates and information as it becomes available.
As always, please check our website at www.lcdes.org for up to date information specific to Lebanon County. Statewide vaccine information can be found at health.pa.gov
Current Vaccination Phase: PHASE 1A
Lebanon County health systems are currently accepting all individuals who fall under 1A of the PA DOH Plan v5. The following locations have been designated as vaccine providers in Lebanon County (as of 1/20/21):
- Lebanon Community Health Center
Tel: 1-844-905-1250
website: https://lancasterhealthcenter.org/services/covid-19-vaccine-information/ - WellSpan
Tel: 855-851-3641
website: https://www.wellspan.org/covid19 - Weis Pharmacy
website: https://c.ateb.com/3f647956b456425d9c12360db8e4fdb4
PHASE 1A Criteria:
- Long-term care facility residents
- Health care personnel including, but not limited to:
- Emergency medical service personnel
- Nurses
- Nursing assistants
- Physicians
- Dentists
- Dental hygienists
- Chiropractors
- Therapists
- Phlebotomists
- Pharmacists
- Technicians
- Pharmacy technicians
- Health professions students and trainees
- Direct support professionals
- Clinical personnel in school settings or correctional facilities
- Contractual HCP not directly employed by the health care facility
- Persons not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to infectious material that can transmit disease among or from health care personnel and patients
- Persons ages 65 and older
- Persons ages 16-64 with high-risk conditions:
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD
- Down Syndrome
- Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant or from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines
- Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
- Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell disease
- Smoking
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
F.A.Q.
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Why should I get a COVID-19 vaccine?
Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools available. Vaccines work with your immune system so your body will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed. Other steps, like wearing masks and social distancing, help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others. Together, COVID-19 vaccination and following the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) recommendations to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from COVID-19.
Is natural immunity from the COVID-19 disease better than immunity from the vaccine?
Getting COVID-19 may offer some natural protection, known as immunity. But experts don’t know how long this protection lasts, and the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 far outweighs any benefits of natural immunity. COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you by creating an antibody response without having to experience sickness.
Both natural immunity and immunity produced by a vaccine are important aspects of COVID-19 that experts are trying to learn more about, and CDC will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available.
How many vaccines might be multi-shot or single-shot vaccinations?
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which has received an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA, is a two-dose vaccine. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has also received an EUA from the FDA and is a two-dose vaccine. There are four U.S. COVID-19 vaccines in production right now from the following drug manufacturers:
- AstraZeneca
- Inovio
- Novavax
- Johnson & Johnson
Three of the four additional vaccines in production through Operation Warp Speed (OWS) are also two-dose vaccines. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a single-dose vaccine.
How many trials were completed and how successful were they? What side effects came out of the trials?
Currently, clinical trials are evaluating investigational COVID-19 vaccines in many thousands of study participants to generate scientific data and other information for the FDA to determine their safety and effectiveness. These clinical trials are being conducted according to the rigorous standards set forth by FDA in their June 2020 guidance document, Development and Licensure of Vaccines to Prevent COVID-19. If FDA determines that a vaccine meets its safety and effectiveness standards, it can make these vaccines available for use in the United States by approval or emergency use authorization.
Can my kids get the COVID-19 vaccine?
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is not yet approved for children under the age of 16. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is not yet approved for children under the age of 18. More research is needed to make sure any COVID-19 vaccine will be safe and effective for infants, kids and teens.