Pennsylvania tool lets you know when it's your turn to get covid vaccine

The Pennsylvania Department of Health launched another new online tool to help with covid-19 vaccine information, and residents now can sign up for alerts as to when they’re eligible.

The website, called Your Turn, first will determine whether a person is eligible for the vaccine and, if they aren’t, give them the option to sign up for an alert when the phase they fall into is up.

The tool is at https://covidportal.health.pa.gov/s/Your-Turn.

“As an education tool, absolutely it is necessary for folks,” said Lindsey Mauldin, a senior adviser at the Department of Health.

People without internet access can call 877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3258) for support.

By the end of the week, the state will have received 2.44 million doses of the vaccine.

Across the state, 1.35 million doses of the vaccine have been administered to 1.05 million people, 302,639 of whom have received their second dose.

Mauldin continued to stand by the state’s decision not to use a centralized, statewide registration system for residents to find and schedule appointments or put themselves on a virtual statewide waiting list.

She said the limited supply of vaccine is one of the main reasons.

“We’re dealing with a limited supply of vaccine coming into Pennsylvania. This is a problem that’s happening all over the country,” she said. “A centralized registration wouldn’t help with that issue.”

Instead, she said, the focus remains on creating awareness among residents as to where they can find providers if they’re eligible.

Pennsylvania remains in Phase 1A of its vaccination plan. That phase includes anyone age 65 or older, health care workers and anyone 16 to 64 with certain health conditions.

She said there is no timeline for completing the first phase, which she noted will take 8 million doses because 4 million Pennsylvanians are currently eligible. She said she thinks it is a realistic possibility that the general public could be receiving vaccinations by summer.

“I know it’s frustrating,” Mauldin said.