Ongoing COVID-19 coverage is presented in part by Transforming Health — a project examining the future of health in America and in Central Pennsylvania. Transforming Health is an educational partnership of WITF, WellSpan Health and Capital BlueCross.
COVID-19 information and advice
What’s going on with all these coronavirus variants? An illustrated guide
I got the COVID-19 vaccine. What’s safe for me to do now, and what isn’t?
Here With You: COVID-19 stories
Watch our video series highlighting stories from members of our community. If you are interested in sharing your story, email Keira McGuire.
Health news
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Matt Rourke
Studies confirm racial, ethnic disparities in COVID-19 hospitalizations and visits
Two new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studies shed additional light on the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color, with implications for vaccine distribution.
By Rachel Treisman/NPR -
Chris Delmas
Would you use an app to verify your vaccine status? The idea is here to stay
From sporting arenas to colleges and cruise ships, many businesses are planning to ask customers to prove they’ve had their shot. Smart phone apps may be coming soon.
By Allison Aubrey/NPR -
Commonwealth Media Services
Pennsylvania: All adults eligible for vaccine on Tuesday
State health officials said Monday that the quicker rollout was enabled by “ongoing appointment availability” in many parts of the state. Gov. Tom Wolf says the accelerated timetable is necessary to keep up with increase coronavirus case counts and hospitalizations.
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Kate Landis
Pennsylvania makes essential workers eligible for vaccine
Workers in transportation and logistics, construction, public health, public safety, finance, legal services, media and several other industries in Phase 1C of the state’s vaccine rollout became eligible to sign up for the vaccine.
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Matthias Schrader
Once ‘haphazard,’ state system for allocating vaccine rollout evolves as shot availability widens
By mid-April, every Pennsylvanian will be eligible to get jabbed. As manufacturers continue to ramp up production, millions of doses of vaccine will flow into the commonwealth over the coming weeks.By Kiley Koscinski/WESA -
Kate Landis
DHS warns many could go hungry if Pa. limits disaster declarations
Without the declaration the program, formerly known as food stamps, she says the state would not be eligible for emergency federal funding.By Hayden Mitman/WLVR -
Emily Reddy
‘Death by a thousand cuts’: Rural Pa. residents lament more cuts to local hospitals during pandemic
Hospitals across the country have been feeling the financial pain, but it’s hitting rural America especially hard.By Min Xian/Keystone Crossroads -
COURTESY OF UPMC
New data give insight to levels of protection the COVID vaccine provides different patients
Older people tend to have less robust immune responses to some vaccines. To better understand the COVID vaccine’s efficacy within this group, UPMC says it collected blood samples from 70 long-term care residents a few weeks after they were vaccinated.
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Michele Abercrombie
The vaccine passport debate actually began in 1897 over a plague vaccine
The U.S. at least for now is content with issuing the same kind of proof of vaccination as from the era of the plague vaccine: a paper certificate with the vaccine information added in ink.By Fran Kritz/NPR -
Patrick Semansky
What’s in Biden’s $400 billion plan to support families’ long-term health needs
It’s a “historic and profound” opportunity to build a stronger framework of services surrounding vulnerable people who need considerable ongoing assistance, says Ai-jen Poo, director of Caring Across Generations.By Judith Graham/NPR -
Rogelio V. Solis
COVID-19 vaccine help groups call on Pa. to expand eligibility sooner
A spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Health said any provider having trouble filling vaccine appointments should contact the state ahead of a clinic for help getting connected with an eligible Pennsylvanian.By Kiley Koscinski/WESA
