Merski, Harkins co-hosting COVID-19 Virtual Vaccine Town Hall Jan. 25

Health department staff will answer residents’ questions at live, online event

Rep. Robert Merski, Rep. Patrick J. Harkins    January 21, 2021 | 1:08 PM

ERIE, Jan. 21 – Erie residents can find answers to their questions about the COVID-19 vaccine by attending a virtual vaccine town hall at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25, state Reps. Bob Merski and Pat Harkins, both D-Erie, announced today.

The lawmakers said they are co-hosting the online event with their House and Senate Democratic colleagues and the state Department of Health to bring residents up to date on the latest vaccine information.

“The state health department just announced that it is expanding the category of residents eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine to include people 65 and older and those 16 to 64 with serious health conditions,” Merski said. “While that’s good news, most of us still have questions about the timetable and what it means for everyone in the Erie community.

“I’m encouraging everyone with questions to register for the event, which will feature a health department official answering questions in an online, live forum.”

Harkins said: “The COVID-19 vaccine is bringing cause for hope but also a host of questions -- from how safe and effective it is to when folks can expect to receive theirs. This is new territory for all of us, and we want to make sure the community has access to the latest, most accurate information. Joining the live event will give folks a chance to get that information straight from the best source – the state health department.” 

The northwestern Pennsylvania town hall, scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on Monday, is one in a series being hosted by members of the PA Senate and PA House. People interested in attending can get more information at www.pasenate.com/vaccine or register directly by following this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtf-yurTMoGNKPrmxj9XyDHYrl1nOTqHtQ

More information about the vaccine and the state’s rollout plan is available through the health department at https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Vaccine/Pages/Vaccine.aspx.