Allentown officials are largely in agreement: Recruiting social workers to help city police respond to 911 calls involving mental health crises, substance abuse and homelessness issues is, conceptually, a wise move. But some are reluctant to bring in a consultant to offer some pointers until they ensure Lehigh County officials and one of the regional health networks are on board and prepared to provide funding. Others fear mental health professionals will expropriate, rather than supplement, police resources.
How do I get a COVID vaccine?
Many individuals in later priority groups and the general public will likely get the vaccine as they get flu shots at a health care provider or a pharmacy location.
For Phase 1B, there may still be some large regional vaccination sites for workers, but there also will be employer-based vaccine clinics for essential worker populations and vaccines available for high-risk groups at local clinics and pharmacies.
On Wednesday, Lehigh Valley Health Network reported that mass immunization tents have been set up in nearby Lehigh County, with operations to start on appropriate groups as soon as we have sufficient vaccine and the go-ahead from the State.
TORONTO As some front-line health-care workers and long-term care home residents await their COVID-19 vaccinations, critics are decrying the fact that some non-front-line staff, including those who have been working from home, are rolling up their sleeves for a shot. “It is an absolute gong show,” Mount Sinai’s Director of Geriatrics Samir Sinha said Tuesday. In an internal email, the University Health Network invited researchers to get vaccinated; the William Osler health system, meanwhile, invited any team member to get a vaccination, writing “this includes any back-office/administrative staff or volunteer.” William Osler said in a statement with considerable progress made, Osler has begun to administer vaccinations to hospital staff and physicians as well as volunteers who spend time within hospital facilities.
Lehigh Valley Health Network is setting up the area’s first known mass COVID-19 vaccination site at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, while rival St. Luke’s University Health Network is scouting locations of its own as the providers work toward inoculating more residents in the fight to end the pandemic.