(The Center Square) – Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen rolled up her sleeves Thursday to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in front of the press at the See-Right Pharmacy in Harrisburg.
The event was part of a push to promote vaccination as cold and flu season gets underway as well as to highlight the administration’s efforts to safeguard vaccine access.
At the beginning of the month, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order creating a state-based approach to vaccination. The move, mirrored in several other states, was intended to blunt the confusion from new federal recommendations under the direction of vaccine skeptic Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“Vaccines for COVID-19 and the flu are readily available to everyone older than six months of age. The vaccines boost your body’s natural defenses against these viruses,” said Dr. Bogen. “As a physician, I strongly encourage all Pennsylvanians to stay up to date on their vaccinations to protect against severe illness from COVID-19 and flu before gathering with family and friends this holiday season.”
Bogen was joined by Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys who assured people that vaccines continue to be covered by most insurance policies. His agency also said it “reaffirmed its expectations” with providers through 2026. For those who are not covered, vaccines are available at State Health Centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers.
“Access to COVID-19 vaccines remains an effective tool to protect our communities and keep Pennsylvanians healthy,” said Commissioner Humphreys. “We want Pennsylvanians to know that health insurance plans will cover the recommended vaccine at no cost, so no one should face a financial barrier to getting protected.”
The CDC currently recommends COVID-19 vaccines for adults 18 and older, saying they are “especially important” for adults aged 65 and over and those who suffer from conditions that put them at higher risk for severe illness. It recommends that parents of children between six months and 17 years discuss vaccination with their doctors.
Offering a differing opinion, the FDA has only approved the COVID-19 vaccine for those aged 65 and over, making the use for everyone else “off-label.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has stepped into the vacuum created by information from federal agencies many say are confusing or misleading. The department’s new guidance gives authority to medical organizations and recommends following the American Academy of Pediatrics immunization schedule.
The Department of Health told The Center Square that “vaccines offered at State Health Centers are funded through the federal grant award to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Bureau of Immunizations through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” Thus far, the federal government shutdown and state budget impasse have not impacted vaccine access.
