The state Department of Health, in conjunction with the COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force, on Wednesday announced a special initiative to vaccinate targeted industry workers and to accelerate the timetable for those in Phases 1B, 1C and 2.

All Pennsylvanians will be eligible to schedule vaccination appointments beginning April 19.

“The vaccine landscape continues to evolve as the federal government is increasing allocations to more retail pharmacy chains across the country,” Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam said. “To ensure that vaccine continues to get to people efficiently and equitably, Pennsylvania is adapting its plan to allow workers in targeted industries to access any of the three vaccines available at providers throughout the state, and to accelerate our eligibility for remaining phases of the state’s vaccination plan.

Ready to go

St. Luke’s University Health Network currently gives about 3,000 shots a day at 10 hospital locations throughout the greater Lehigh Valley. The network said it can easily expand the vaccine program to give many more shots.

“We are only constrained by supply. The more vaccine we receive from the state, the more jabs we can/will give,” said spokesman Samuel Kennedy on Thursday.

Two new locations

In Lehigh County, Lehigh Valley Health Network is opening a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the former A.C. Moore store, 2633 MacArthur Blvd., Whitehall. Another vaccination clinic will be located in Northampton County at Northampton Crossings shopping center in the former Sears Appliance and Hardware store, 3768 Easton Nazareth Highway, Palmer Township. Both locations open April 12 and will provide COVID-19 vaccinations by appointment.

“Pennsylvania’s vaccine providers have dramatically stepped up the pace of vaccinations to an average of 83,000 per day, moving the Keystone State higher and higher in the rankings with other states,” Beam said.

“As we complete Phase 1A vaccinations, it’s time to open eligibility to more Pennsylvanians so providers can continue to fill appointments and efficiently, effectively and equitably vaccinate more people every day.”

Drive-thru sites

LVHN will also hold two mass vaccination drive-thru events at Pocono Raceway and Dorney Park, which will deliver 7,000 doses per week. With these expanded efforts, LVHN plans to deliver a total of 35,000 doses per week.

Three thousand doses will be administered at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond on April 7 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The following Saturday, April 10, LVHN plans to vaccinate 4,000 people with their first dose of the Moderna vaccine at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Appointments are available.

Several pharmacies are also offering vaccines. Check the vaccine tool on the state department of health website for details.

“It is important to remember that eligibility does not guarantee an immediate vaccination appointment,” Beam said. “Vaccine providers are ready and eager to get a shot in the arm of every person who wants one while we continue to aggressively advocate for more vaccine.”

The DOH confirmed Wednesday that there were 4,557 new COVID-19 cases, which brings the statewide total to 1,024,857.

Vaccine eligibility

Workers in the four targeted industries are eligible:

• Law enforcement, which includes police, sheriffs and deputies, constables, corrections officers and staff, as well as probation and parole staff.

• Firefighters, including career and volunteer firefighters.

• Grocery store workers, including all workers in supermarkets and grocery stores.

• Food and agriculture workers, including all food processing company employees, including meat, poultry, and dairy processing, fresh fruit and vegetable packing operations, food manufacturing, all farmworkers, farm operators, and farm managers, including at urban agriculture operations.

• April 5: all residents in Phase 1B will be eligible to start scheduling vaccination appointments.

• April 12: all residents in Phase 1C will be eligible to start scheduling vaccination appointments.

• April 19: all residents will be eligible to start scheduling vaccination appointments.