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Philadelphia on Thursday launched an official form for residents and employers to indicate their interest in being vaccinated against COVID-19.
This new register is the first to be managed by the city’s Ministry of Public Health. Its launch comes just weeks after a start-up called Philly Fighting COVID opened a similar portal that appeared to be affiliated with the city. The Black Doctors COVID-19 consortium also has a registration form, as does Acme Markets.
Contrary to what officials said earlier this week, the health ministry will work with these organizations to ensure all information is consolidated into a central database, according to the announcement.
The city portal is basically your opportunity to tell officials in Philadelphia that you want to get vaccinated as soon as you can get it. This is not an official registration for an inoculation appointment, and it does not reserve your place online.
Due to the limited vaccine supply, it may take weeks or months before you are notified that an appointment is available. You might not even hear at all for a while.
Here’s a look at what we know about the status of the vaccine registry and what is not yet clear.
How will I know that I am eligible to receive the vaccine?
There is no timeline at this time for when different groups of Philadelphians will be eligible for the vaccine. But if you register with the city registry, you should be alerted when it’s your turn.
When will the city’s vaccine registry go live?
Health Commissioner Dr Thomas Farley first announced the city’s listing on Wednesday, January 19. It was uploaded two days later, Thursday, January 21.
How do I register?
The portal is located at phila.gov/vaccineinterest.
It is available in Spanish and English, but only accessible to people with an internet connection.
What about people who don’t have the Internet or a smartphone?
The city plans to educate people who are not connected to the internet, Farley said, but for now, registration is online only.
What happens after I register?
Nothing right away. You simply sign up to “express interest” in being vaccinated, according to Farley. The online portal will not give you an appointment, or even a general calendar.
Ultimately, the registry should let you know when you are eligible to receive the vaccine.
Wait, but I thought I was already signed up for something?
You could have. The Philly Fighting COVID organization opened a vaccine registry and began distributing doses at the Pennsylvania Convention Center a few weeks ago. But it is managed independently and separate from the city registry.
So what is the relationship between the city and Philly Fighting COVID?
The Department of Health has provided the PFC vaccination site with approximately 1,000 doses per week so far, but has no control over its registration system. It’s similar to the city’s relationship with the Black Physician Consortium and with Acme Markets and other pharmacies licensed to administer the vaccine.
Do I have to register for both? What about other registers?
According to the city’s announcement, health department officials will work with other “pre-registration” sites to ensure they have access to information already collected by other organizations.
It is not known if there is a benefit to enrolling in these groups – as they are the ones who will actually administer the vaccines. The city of Philadelphia does not kick directly.
Is my data safe?
The data collected by the city’s form is kept with the same level of security as other health information managed by the Department of Public Health, the city said. For the other registers, it is not known what security measures are taken.
I am an essential employee. How do I register?
The municipal register includes boxes that you can tick to indicate that you are an essential worker.
How long will it take for me to hear from my vaccine appointment?
Farley said those who register with the city will likely not have a response for weeks, if not months. PFC is pretty much on the same schedule, with its website indicating that the doses will roll out over the “next few months.”
When will I get the vaccine?
The city does not yet have a specific schedule for vaccinations. But we do know the order in which Philadelphians should be vaccinated. Here’s a breakdown.
Who will administer the vaccines?
The city has issued a call for proposals for possible vaccination clinics – so stay tuned for more information on this one.
Meanwhile, the PFC clinic is already operational at the Convention Center. Hospitals, health systems, and pharmacies will also distribute doses, and the Black Doctors’ Consortium operates vaccination sites in various community centers.
Some large employers who have in-house medical facilities will also give shots, according to Farley. He also indicated that people with chronic conditions should eventually be able to get vaccinated through their doctor, but it is not known when that will occur.
“There is no reason to call your personal health care provider to ask them to schedule an appointment,” the city ad says.
WHY health reporter Nina Feldman and Billy Penn’s Max Marin contributed reporting.
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