In December, UPMC began receiving and distributing COVID-19 vaccines to health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities. We continue to prepare for future phases of vaccine distributions, which will include essential workers, people with underlying health conditions, and the public. We are committed to keeping you updated and informed. We encourage you to sign up for MyUPMC, an online tool where your doctor can communicate with you about vaccination. |
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| When Will the COVID-19 Vaccine Be Available to the Public? |
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| UPMC began distributing doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to our frontline health care workers in December. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine requires two doses for full protection. This week, we began to deliver the second dose of vaccine to our workers.
In late December, we began to vaccinate the patients, residents, and staff of UPMC Senior Communities with the first doses of the Moderna vaccine. Our goal is to distribute the vaccine to all patients, residents, and staff of UPMC Senior Communities facilities by the end of January or early February.
UPMC continues to follow Pennsylvania’s directives about vaccine distribution. Following Gov. Tom Wolf’s orders last week, UPMC is developing a plan to distribute a designated portion of COVID-19 vaccines to non-UPMC health care workers in our communities. |
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| How to Slow the Spread of COVID-19 |
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| A vaccine is a crucial factor in stopping COVID-19, but there are other important steps.
Graham Snyder, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology at UPMC, says following public health measures can prevent the spread of the coronavirus and save lives. These actions include wearing facemasks, avoiding crowds, social distancing, and maintaining hand hygiene.
UPMC is offering the best available treatments for COVID-19 and is conducting studies to discover other potential therapies for COVID-19. |
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| Staying in Touch: COVID-19 Vaccine |
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You may have many questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, and UPMC Health Plan is here to help. Dr. Snyder will host a live online video seminar about the vaccine on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, at noon EDT. Dr. Snyder will provide the latest news about the vaccine, including when it will be available and how UPMC is preparing. He also will discuss vaccine coverage and what you can expect to pay. To join the seminar by phone, you can call 1-855-962-1209 beginning at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 12. You also can watch the seminar online. For information on more Staying In Touch events, visit UPMCHealthPlan.com. |
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As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds and vaccine distribution continues, we are committed to keeping our patients, staff, and community safe and informed. Visit UPMC.com/COVID19 for updates on testing, treatment, the vaccine, and more. And for more information about COVID-19 and the vaccine, visit our UPMC HealthBeat blog, where you can find news updates and safety tips. |
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