All Pennsylvanians eligible for COVID-19 vaccine beginning April 13

(This developing story will be updated.)

Pennsylvanians who want to receive the COVID-19 vaccine will be able to do so beginning Tuesday, according to state officials. 

The announcement that COVID-19 vaccines would be available to the general public beginning April 13 is about a week ahead of the timetable issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health on March 31. 

“Everyone needs and should be afforded the opportunity to access the vaccine as soon as possible,” Acting Secretary Alison Beam said in a statement Monday. “And, this change provides earlier access for many, including college students increasing the likelihood of completion of two-dose regimens prior to leaving campus for the summer. It also means simpler, streamlined operations for vaccine providers that no longer need to check eligibility of people making appointments.”

Pa. to open COVID-19 vaccinations to all by April 19

Vaccine providers in the commonwealth have administered more than 6 million vaccines, according to Department of Health data. 

Members of Gov. Tom Wolf’s COVID-19 Task Force praised “bipartisan cooperation” as the catalyst for boosting Pennsylvania’s vaccine rollout efforts.

“It is precisely the bipartisan cooperation of this Joint Task Force coupled with the tremendous work of our provider network that has allowed our Commonwealth to make rapid progress in our vaccine rollout, now expanding eligibility so that every Pennsylvanian who wants to be vaccinated has the opportunity to do so immediately,” Sen. Ryan Aument, R-Lancaster, a task force member, said. “Because we have maintained our commitment to residents within phases 1A and 1B, we can now further accelerate the rollout and protect our communities, particularly by ensuring that college students can be vaccinated before returning home to their families for the summer.”

Vaccine provider information can be found on the Department of Health website.