COVID-19 Vaccine

As information is changing quickly, we will continue to update this page to assist in keeping the public and healthcare providers informed of COVID-19 vaccine updates. 

Frequently Asked Questions

The Montgomery County Office of Public Health is working closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Health in supplying COVID-19 vaccine. The goal is for everyone to be able to easily get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as large quantities are available. The initial roll-out of the vaccine will be in limited supply and vaccination efforts will focus on those at highest risk for contracting COVID-19 or developing serious illness from COVID-19. 

As more vaccine becomes available, vaccination across multiple phases can occur simultaneously. 

COVID Back to Normal

COVID-19 Vaccination REGISTRATION 

This page was last updated on 1/13/2021.

The Montgomery County Office of Public Health has started scheduling appointments for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for Phase 1A which includes qualifying healthcare staff who live or work in the county. 

If you have received ANY type of vaccine in the past 14 days, or plan to get a vaccine in the next 14 days, YOU CANNOT GET THE COVID VACCINE UNTIL 14 DAYS HAVE PASSED.

Pre-screen 1A Opens in new window

The Office of Public Health will review the responses and send a registration link to persons that fit into the 1A category, which will take them to an appointment system. Appointment confirmation and a medical license, badge, or paystub verifying employment will be required to receive a vaccination.

  • Healthcare Offices and Healthcare professionals: Individuals employed by a healthcare office should have their office complete one survey form for all staff.
  • Private Healthcare Contractors: Private contractors who work in the healthcare industries listed in the Phase 1A category below, and who do not have a primary employer may apply as an independent contractor. In this case, “Business Name” would be “Your Name Private Contractor.” Business contact information would be the individual’s contact information. A description of the individual’s work in the healthcare industry (as described above in 1A) should be included under “describe the service your agency providers.”

Pre-Reg Individuals Opens in new window

Pre-registration is for:

  • People who are 65 years of age or older, OR 
  • Individuals who have health conditions that qualify them for Phase 1B or 1C 

At this time, this survey is not accepting responses from individuals who qualify for vaccination in Phases 1B and 1C based solely on occupation. We are currently working to address this issue. Please check back soon for updates, and in the meantime, contact your employer to see if they have completed the Pre-Screening for Healthcare Agency (1A) and Phase 1B Business Vaccination Registry.

Questions?

Any questions or concerns regarding vaccine registration MUST be directed to the Montgomery County Office of Public Health at publichealth@montcopa.org. Veoci, our survey provider, will not be able to address any inquiries or provide any assistance on this matter.

Vaccine Clinic InformationEmail confirmation - PrepMod

Clinics will run Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 3:45 p.m. Due to the limited supply of vaccine available at this time, only eligible people will be scheduled appointments over the next few weeks. Appointments are required to receive the vaccine, no walk-up registration will be accepted. As more vaccine doses become available, more appointment slots and vaccination clinics will be opened.

PA Long-Term Care Facility State COVID-19 Vaccination Partnership

The PA Department of Health will be matching Long Term Care Facilities NOT enrolled in the federal partnership with potential vaccinators. Please fill out this form only if you are not already enrolled with the federal program and are interested in being matched with a state vaccination provider:

  1. Phase 1A
  2. Phase 1B
  3. Phase 1C
  4. Phase 2

Vaccine distribution for this category has begun. To complete a pre-screening survey to register, click here. Vaccine clinics will continue based on the availability of the vaccine and are subject to change. 

Phase 1A: Pennsylvania is receiving small initial allocations of vaccine as product has become available. On December 11, 2020, the CDC adopted the recommendations of the federal advisory panel, ACIP, that 1) health care personnel and 2) residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) be offered vaccination in Phase 1A of the COVID-19 vaccination program. Pennsylvania has adopted these recommendations. 

The DOH recognizes the sub-prioritization approach recommended by ACIP, because initial vaccine allocation is scarce compared to the number of health care personnel in the state who would require vaccination, and there is expected to be a constrained supply environment for some months. In addition to the sub-prioritization endorsed by ACIP, DOH is including additional sub-prioritization categories to better inform providers to ensure ethical allocation of scarce vaccine, as outlined in Appendix 8 of this Plan. 

Initial allocation of vaccine in Phase 1A will be distributed to hospitals, health systems, FQHCs, and pharmacies, and the Federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program, which will be responsible for vaccinating residents and health care personnel who work in long-term care facilities. Hospitals, health systems, FQHCs and pharmacies should use the appendix 8 tool. 

Phase 1A; Healthcare Personnel: “Health care personnel” are defined by ACIP as paid and unpaid persons serving in health care settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials. These health care personnel (HCP) may include, but are 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, and persons (e.g., clerical, laboratory, dietary, environmental services, laundry, security, maintenance, engineering and facilities management, mortuary, administrative, billing, clergy when working in health care settings, regulatory staff who perform on-site assessments in hospitals and facilities that meet the definition of Phase 1A long-term care facilities, long-term care ombudsmen, Older Adult Protective Services, Adult Protective Services, and Child Protective Services staff that are required to do on-site assessments in hospitals and facilities that meet the definition of Phase 1A long-term care facilities, and volunteer personnel) not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to infectious material that can transmit disease among or from health care personnel and patients. “Health care settings” refers to the CDC definition of the places where health care is delivered and includes, but is not limited to, acute care facilities, long term care facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, nursing home and assisted living facilities, home healthcare, vehicles where health care is delivered (e.g., mobile clinics), and outpatient facilities, such as dialysis centers, physician offices, adult day facilities and other sites. 

Phase 1A: Long-term care facilities (LTCFs): “Long-term care facilities” are defined by ACIP as facilities that provide a spectrum of medical and non-medical services to frail or older adults unable to reside independently in the community. In Pennsylvania, facilities that may serve frail or older adults in a residential setting include Skilled Nursing Facilities, Personal Care Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, Private Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities, Community Group Homes, Residential Treatment Facilities for Adults, Long-term Structured Residences, State Veterans Homes, State Centers, private psychiatric hospitals, and State Hospitals.  

CDC Rationale: Early protection of health care personnel is critical to preserve capacity to care for patients with COVID-19 or other illnesses. Due to high rates of underlying medical conditions, and congregate living situation, long-term care residents are at high risk for infection and severe illness from COVID-19. 

Phase 1A Recommendation Evidence Table

To learn more about the CDC recommendations visit: Coronavirus Recommendations Process

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