Wolf discusses vaccine equity, progress in McKeesport

By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com

Gov. Tom Wolf made a stop in McKeesport Wednesday to tour a COVID-19 vaccine clinic slated to open Monday at a city church.
The governor also talked about “vaccine equity and progress.”
Wolf said there’s not a guarantee but it’s possible the state could reach a point by the second week of May where every Pennsylvania resident who wants a vaccine will be able to get at least their first shot.
“Since Pennsylvania providers began receiving vaccine in late December, our state has made immense progress,” Wolf told reporters on the front lawn of Bethlehem Baptist Church in downtown McKeesport. “Pennsylvania has moved up in state rankings for vaccine distribution over the past several weeks, and we now regularly rank in the top 15 of states for first-dose vaccinations.”
Allegheny County is opening the COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Bethlehem Baptist Church. It is focused on serving a population that may have barriers to vaccine access, and is essentially a neighborhood clinic with plans to vaccinate between 100 and 200 people each day, according to Wolf.
It is the fourth clinic to be opened by Allegheny County in conjunction with its health department and a local community – two larger clinics and now two community clinics.
Members of the press were not permitted to enter the clinic for the tour Wednesday.
Allegheny County also operates a COVID-19 testing site at the RIDC Industrial Center of McKeesport.
The governor was joined by County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Rev. Earlene Coleman of Bethlehem Baptist, McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko, Allegheny County Health Department Director Dr. Debra Bogen and others, including state Sen. Jim Brewster and state Rep. Austin Davis, both McKeesport Democrats.
“Throughout this pandemic, we have been grateful to so many partners, big and small, whose help has been instrumental in allowing us to control the spread of the virus and reach those who are most vulnerable in our community with vaccine,” Fitzgerald said. “Thanks to Gov. Wolf and the PA Department of Health, we have more vaccine for those in our community. And thanks to Rev. Coleman and Bethlehem Baptist, we are able to reach the members of this community where they are, ensuring they are protected against the virus.”
While demand for vaccine still outweighs the supply that the state is receiving from the federal government, Pennsylvania has moved forward with eligibility for those in Phase 1B, while still vaccinating anyone in 1A who wants to be vaccinated and hasn’t been, and while completing special initiatives such as vaccinations for teachers and school staff. Vaccination progress has warranted opening up availability to more populations and mirrors the vaccination goals of President Biden, the Wolf administration said Wednesday.
To date, Pennsylvania has administered over 5.7 million doses of vaccine and fully vaccinated more than 2 million people. According to the CDC, as of Wednesday morning, April 7, Pennsylvania has administered first doses of vaccine to 35.4% of its eligible population, and the state ranks 11th among all 50 states for first doses administered by percentage of population.
Allegheny County has administered 456,952 vaccine doses with more than 240,000 people fully vaccinated. As of April 2, 76% of those in the county who are 65+ are at least partially vaccinated; 44% of those 50-64 are at least partially vaccinated. The Allegheny County Health Department has administered 87,386 vaccines to date.
The mayor said he and his team at city hall have been working hard to find ways to bring vaccine clinics to McKeesport.
“We all know that the last year has been challenging times for everyone,” Cherepko said. “Here in the Mon Valley, when we started to hear about the vaccines and getting access to them — it’s very difficult for our community. Not just in the City of McKeesport, but for the entire region of the Mon Valley.
“ … We’re very proud to have access to these vaccines now. We’re very thankful for this collaborative effort to make sure without any question that those that need a vaccine, it will be accessible to you. And that’s not just here in the City of McKeesport, but for residents of the Mon Valley and beyond.”
The governor said “equity means not only identifying which populations are at greatest risk from COVID-19, but proactively working to get vaccine into those communities, and breaking down barriers that make it harder for vulnerable Pennsylvanians to access the vaccine.”
“Local providers — like those right here in Allegheny County — know their communities best and can put in place targeted efforts to ensure vaccine equity. That’s exactly what will happen at this site,” he said.
Brewster said he was proud to welcome the governor and Fitzgerald to McKeesport.
“There was no blueprint for this pandemic. Everyone has an opinion. Every body had an opinion, every elected official had an opinion, but our governor stood tall with our county executive and went through a plan, and I think I can say this emphatically, has saved lives,” he said. “Every shot that has been given has saved somebody’s life. We can’t quantify that. We wish we could.”
“ … This is part of the plan today. Coming to an under-served area — folks of poverty, folks with addiction, homelessness. Coming into these communities where they can’t get to these other sites. That’s what leadership is about.”
Davis thanked the governor for visiting McKeesport and said the vaccination clinic is much needed in the Valley.
“Given the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had on people of color, ensuring equity in the vaccination process is crucial, and I’m grateful that the McKeesport community is contributing so much to our efforts to support the health and well-being of all Western Pennsylvania residents,” Davis said.

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Jeff Stitt/ Mon Valley Independent
The Rev. Earlene Coleman of Bethlehem Baptist Church addresses the media on Wednesday as Gov. Tom Wolf, state Sen. Jim Brewster, D-McKeesport, and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald listen.