Coatesville VA offering COVID vaccine to all enrolled veterans

Debora Brooks-Wilson receives her first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccination at Coatesville VA Medical Center on March 25, 2021 after receiving a text message last week offering her the opportunity to schedule an appointment. CALN — Coatesville VA Medical Center (VAMC) began offering the COVID-19 vaccine to all enrolled Veterans on Thursday. The decision to open vaccinations to all enrolled Veterans...

Wolf, DOH rightly under fire for botched, unfair vaccine rollout

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa Depending on who you talk to, Pennsylvania’s vaccine program is either going swimmingly, or it is a bungled mess, with lower than the national average per capita of vaccine in arms, while the state Department of Health (DOH) is intentionally shortchanging the collar counties — the same counties that did the best job in containing the COVID-19 virus...

Coatesville VA lowers eligibility for COVID vaccine to age 55

Gary Giorno, a Vietnam era Veteran, receives his second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the Coatesville VA Medical Center vaccination clinic on March 12, 2021. Giorno shared his thoughts about the process during his observation period before checking out. CALN — Coatesville VA Medical Center (VAMC) began offering the COVID-19 vaccine to Veterans age 55 and over on Monday. The decision to...

Answering questions about vaccines: in short, they work and they’re safe

By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times Here we are closing in on a year of life altered by the pandemic.  As a practicing dentist I have fielded my share of questions from all points of view. I want to share my perspective on where we are what lies ahead. There are lots of questions about vaccines. Yes, they work. The job of the vaccine is to keep people out of the hospital and protect...

Local officials blast Wolf Admin. over ‘shortchanging’ SE counties on COVID-19 vaccine

A Sunday meeting between local elected officials and officials from the state Department of Health (DOH) did little to convince officials from Chester, Montgomery, Delaware and Bucks county that DOH has not shortchanged the region when it comes to COVID-19 vaccine — and that the state will continue to shortchange the counties surrounding Philadelphia. The meeting — with county commissioners, county...

Elected officials reach out to schedule vaccine appointments

Chester County Commissioner Michelle Kichline (right) making phone calls to county residents to book COVID-19 vaccine appointments, Saturday. Also pictured are (background left to right) State Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-19), and State Rep. Dan Williams (D-74. WEST CHESTER — All three Chester County Commissioners, and a number of state elected officials joined Chester County Health Department staff and...

Don’t retire, ReFire: The value of perserverance

By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times In this last year, we all have had to dig deep and plug along an unknown, winding road with no apparent end in sight. Now that the end is in sight, we are still dealing with the slow process of getting to the finish line, almost feeling like we’re walking in quicksand, as we attempt to set up an appoint to be vaccinated! We’re tired. The problem with...

Wolf loosens some COVID restrictions; Congress members call for better Pa. vaccine roll out

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa Gov. Tom Wolf announced some loosening of COVID-19 restrictions Monday — as members of Congress from the Philadelphia suburbs, including U.S. Chrissy Houlahan, called for Wolf to fix the state’s vaccine program. This all happened as the new weekly state COVID numbers showed another modest decline — and a similar drop in Chester County from the week...

County officials push state on vaccine numbers, explain guidance for schools reopening

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa Chester County Commissioners’ chair Marian Moskowitz updates the public on the current status of COVID-19 vaccine in the county, Thursday. WESTTOWN — The leaders of Chester County’s government expressed frustration at low supplies of COVID-19 vaccine — and pledged to keep pushing state officials to boost supplies locally, specifically to the...

VA holds on the spot enrollment event, March 6

CALN — The Coatesville VA Medical Center will host a health care enrollment event for Veterans on Saturday March 6, from 9 a.m. to noon. Veterans have the opportunity to enroll for health care on-the-spot through VA and are encouraged to bring a copy of their DD-214 if available. Veterans may: –  Enroll on-the-spot for VA health care –  Schedule a Primary Care Appointment – ...