Vaccine Registration Streamline Act Proposed By Delco State Rep

SPRINGFIELD, PA — A Delaware County state representative helped introduce new legislation that would streamline the registration and notification process for Pennsylvanians seeking the coronavirus vaccine.

State Rep. Jennifer O'Mara — along with Reps. Ryan Bizzarro, Pam Snyder, and Austin Davis — recently introduced the Vaccine Registry Act.

This act would direct the Pennsylvania Department of Health to create a statewide database of people who are eligible and willing to accept the vaccine and permit them to schedule for themselves, their spouses or significant others, and their families.

Registrants can also provide evidence of risk status and proof of eligibility and make note of how far they are willing to travel to be vaccinated.

Vaccine providers would be required to commit to accessing the registry and prioritizing registrants for scheduling appointments, to prevent people from spending hours trying to find and sign up for available appointments.

"This is a great solution to simplify the vaccination process for seniors and for all Pennsylvanians who are trying to get vaccinated," O'Mara said. "The bottom line is, every delay in effectively and efficiently distributing this vaccine, is another day this pandemic will continue. Hope is here and in the hands of our health care workers. We are grateful for all they are doing to keep people healthy and safe, and we have to give them the tools to distribute this vaccine."

The Pennsylvania Department of Health would be tasked with establishing and maintaining the registry and providing access to providers who register to access the registry.

Providers would need to register to receive vaccines for distribution and priority access would be given to patients who register through the state-managed registry.

The measure will likely be referred to the House Health Committee.

See details on the act here.