Geisinger Expanding COVID Vaccine Availability for Tier 1A Healthcare Personnel

Geisinger is continuing to provide the COVID-19 vaccine for healthcare personnel who qualify as part of the state’s Phase 1A groups by expanding administration with new community-based vaccine centers throughout central and northeastern Pennsylvania.

Appointments are required to receive the vaccine, and can be made online using myGeisinger. A questionnaire must be completed prior to scheduling to ensure eligibility and for health screening purposes. Healthcare personnel must bring to their appointments their healthcare-related identification (certificate, license etc.) to verify eligibility as part of the state’s Phase 1A groups and a valid driver’s license.

Healthcare personnel who have been cared for by Geisinger or have Geisinger Health Plan insurance, but don’t have a myGeisinger account, can create one online. Those who haven’t been cared for by Geisinger and don’t have Geisinger Health Plan insurance or anyone under the age of 18 can call 570-284-3657 for help setting up an account.

In alignment with federal and state guidelines and as supplies, staffing and logistics allow, COVID vaccines will be available to all healthcare personnel who qualify as part of the state’s Phase 1A, including:

• Chiropractors
• Clinical personnel in school or university settings
• Contracted healthcare personnel not directly employed by a health care facility
• Dentists and dental hygienists
• Direct support professionals
• EMS
• Medical students and trainees
• Non-Geisinger providers and their staffs
• Nurses, nursing assistants
• Persons not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to infectious material that can transmit disease
• Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians
• Phlebotomists
• Physicians
• Technicians
• Therapists

Geisinger is administering the Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna COVID vaccines. When scheduling appointments, it’s important to remember that two doses of the vaccine are required so healthcare personnel are encouraged to consider both doses when scheduling. The second dose of the Pfizer vaccine is needed 21 days after the first, and the second dose of the Moderna vaccine needed 28 days after the first. It’s required to receive both vaccines doses at the same location.

Vaccines also remain available to Geisinger staff. To date, Geisinger has provided about 15,000 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Even as the vaccine becomes more available in our communities, preventive measures to help stop the spread of the virus continue to be important. Everyone, including those who receive the vaccine, should continue to properly wear a mask, avoid group gatherings, maintain physical distancing and practice proper handwashing. For answers to questions about the vaccine, visit the Geisinger COVID-19 vaccine resources center at geisinger.org/COVIDvax.