At long last, vaccine for COVID-19 has arrived in Philadelphia.
The long-awaited vaccine is already being distributed in Philadelphia to frontline healthcare workers. These individuals have direct contact with patients, clinical specimens, or interact in the environment of patients. This places them at high risk for exposure and transmission to our most vulnerable populations.
Over the next several months, all Philadelphians will begin to have access to vaccination based on a phased schedule of priority populations. The schedule was determined by the City’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee (VAC), and has been informed by continuing discussions of the City’s Coronavirus Interim Racial Equity Plan.
The tables below illustrate the City’s priority populations for vaccine distribution. Definitions of the populations are linked in the footnotes.
Phase 1a
High Risk for Exposure and Transmission to Vulnerable Populations (Patient-Facing Healthcare Workers 1) |
High Risk of Morbidity/Mortality |
| Hospital staff | Long-term care facility residents |
| COVID testing site | |
| COVID vaccination & lab staff | |
| Long-term care facility staff | |
| Emergency medical services | |
| Home health care | |
| Prison health services | |
| Outpatient clinics, FQHCs | |
| Unaffiliated healthcare providers |
Phase 1b
High Risk for Exposure and Perform Essential Duties |
High Risk of Morbidity/Mortality |
| First responders 2 | Persons working in congregate residential settings 8 |
| Service providers working with high-risk populations 3 | Persons residing in congregate settings 8 |
| Public transit | Persons age 75+ |
| Food distribution, prep, or service 4 | Persons with high-risk medical conditions 9 |
| Childcare, Education providers 5 | |
| High volume essential retail 6 | |
| Manufacturing critical goods 7 |
Phase 1c
Other Essential Workers but with Lower Risk of Exposure |
High Risk of Morbidity/Mortality |
| Sanitation workers | Persons age 65 – 74 years |
| Maintenance/janitorial workers | |
| Utility workers 10 | |
| Postal and package delivery workers | |
| Higher education 11 | |
| Finance 12 | |
| Transportation 13 | |
| Construction | |
| IT & Telecommunications | |
| Public health | |
| Legal 14 |
Phase 2
| Everyone > 16 years of age not previously immunized |
