In Reading, Wolf urges eligible Pennsylvanians to get vaccine to protect school-age children

Speaking from a mobile vaccine clinic at Reading Area Community College in Berks County on Tuesday morning, Gov. Tom Wolf called on Pennsylvanians to get vaccinated and to help end the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Getting Pennsylvanians vaccinated is our number one priority,” Wolf said. “That’s because it’s the number one way we can fight COVID-19. Getting vaccinated is how we end this pandemic. It’s how each of us can be a part of the solution to COVID-19, and it’s a way we can protect the people around us who can’t get vaccinated yet.”

Wolf was joined by state lawmakers and community leaders to urge unvaccinated Pennsylvanians to get the vaccine to protect those who cannot be vaccinated, such as children under 12. 

“We have a problem,” Wolf said, regarding the school-age children who cannot be vaccinated. “So what do we do?” he asked. 

“We need to do everything in our power” to keep kids in the classroom, Wolf concluded, noting that for those who cannot be vaccinated yet, masking is the next best option.

Pennsylvania logged more than 12,000 over the weekend, the state Department of Health confirmed Monday.

Statewide, 2,239 people were hospitalized as of Monday, with 551 people in hospital intensive care units, according to state data. 

Pa. logs 12K new COVID-19 cases over the weekend; More than 2,200 hospitalized, Health Department says

State Rep. Manuel Guzman, D-Berks, who joined Wolf Tuesday, called for unvaccinated Pennsylvanians to “follow the science.”

“You gotta get off social media and you gotta follow the science,” Guzman said. “It is vital for all of our communities to continue receiving vaccinations, but it is especially vital for our Latino Community to get vaccinated as their vaccination rates are among the lowest in our Commonwealth.”

Through a partnership with the state Department of Health and Highmark Blue Shield, Latino Connection, a marketing and communications firm that connects businesses with the Latino community, continues to bring COVID-19 vaccines to Latino communities across Pennsylvania, including Reading. 

“Latino Connection is fueled by the passion for ensuring all Pennsylvanians have affordable and reliable access to health and social assistance programs. The CATE [Community-Accessible Testing & Education] initiative has quite literally given this mission a vehicle to deliver important COVID-19 resources into the center of the communities who need them the most,” Latino Connection CEO George Fernandez said. “I am humbled by the dedication and hard work of our community partners that has allowed this vision to come to life. CATE’s journey has only just begun!”