Through Penn's vaccination plan, together we will:
Educate: One of the most critical tools we can use in the fight against COVID-19 is vaccination. Clinical studies show that vaccines are safe and will protect individuals from developing serious illness if they contract the virus. Currently, the FDA has approved the Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Additional vaccines are being developed to provide protection against the pandemic. Learn how vaccines work.
Participate: We all have a responsibility to keep the entire Penn community a healthy and safe environment in which to live, learn, and work. Follow the COVID-19 protocols before and after you get vaccinated to protect yourself and others from transmitting the virus. Mask up, wash your hands, and practice physical distancing even after you receive your first and second vaccination.
Vaccinate: In the City of Philadelphia, vaccines are being prioritized based on two principles: occupational exposure and transmission risk, and underlying mortality and morbidity risk. Penn will help coordinate access based on occupational risk and age only. Penn's vaccine distribution program is just one avenue for getting vaccinated. Be sure to explore all vaccine options through your county and/or state government agencies.
Vaccines are not mandatory for faculty, staff, and postdocs. However, the University is faciliating access to vaccines through the Penn Cares COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic. Second dose appointments will be held mid-May.
Penn's vaccine distribution plan provides just one avenue for you to get vaccinated. Check all your options for getting a vaccine by visiting the appropriate county and/or state government websites.
Pennsylvania Department of Health
The science behind COVID-19 vaccines. A conversation with Penn Medicine physician Dr. Drew Weismann.
P.J. Brennan, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Penn Medicine, answers questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Logistics of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout - Penn Today
What you can safely do after full vaccination - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Understanding and addressing barriers to COVID vaccine acceptance - Penn Today
Study suggests those who had COVID-19 may only need one vaccine dose - Penn Today
Visit the Penn Cares Videos webpage to hear from Penn Community members about why they chose to get vaccinated.
Also, learn about the COVID-19 vaccine, some common reasons for hesitancy surrounding it, side effects, efficacy, and more.
Watch the Videos
Each state has set priorities about who gets the vaccine first, based on recommendations from the federal government. In the City of Philadelphia, the vaccines are being distributed in phases: Phase 1a, Phase 1b, Phase 1c, and Phase 2.
View the chart below for details about each phase of the rollout.
Philadelphia's Priority Populations
Includes individuals who are high risk for exposure and transmission to vulnerable populations such as patient-facing healthcare workers.
Check the PDPH website for detailed definitions of priority populations.
Includes individuals who are frontline workers at high risk for exposure who perform essential duties, persons working and residing in congregate settings, persons 65 years and older, and persons with high-risk medical conditions.
Check the PDPH website for detailed definitions of priority populations.
Includes other essential workers but with lower risk of exposure, and those working in higher education.
Check the PDPH website for detailed definitions of priority populations.
General population - individuals 16 years of age and older who have not been previously vaccinated. This phase includes students.
Philadelphia Department of Public Health
