The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) and the newly formed joint task force with the legislature this week reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that Pennsylvanians will have access to second doses of COVID-19 vaccine within the CDC-recommended timeframe of up to 42 days after the first dose. Acknowledging communications shortcomings and the need for more frequent outreach to providers, Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam outlined plans moving forward. As DOH reviewed and worked to improve the complex processes necessary to get COVID-19 vaccine from the manufacturers into the arms of Pennsylvanians as quickly as possible, they discovered some providers inadvertently administered the Moderna vaccine shipped to them intended as second doses, as first doses. To remedy the situation and remain committed to ensuring that second doses are available, DOH is adjusting the timing of second dose administration following CDC guidelines that set the minimum time between doses at 28 days and the maximum time at 42 days.
