As the Big Lie unravels, the PA GOP looks pretty bad

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa We might just be at a tipping point when it comes to The Big Lie. Never mind the facts that Donald Trump lost the national race by somewhere around seven million votes and lost a solid margin in the Electoral College. And forget for a second, that Trump lost Pennsylvania to Joe Biden by about 80,000 votes in an election that has had multiple checks...

Extreme Pa. GOP mapping its own demise

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa You’ve probably heard about the old story about the dog who finally caught the car — and didn’t know what to do with it. In Pennsylvania, of late, assume legislative Republicans are the dog grabbing the rear bumper, but one who doesn’t see the reverse lights suddenly turn on. They’ve already moved to take emergency declaration power away...

County starts COVID vaccinations for kids as young as 12 today

Following the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP) recommendation of the Pfizer vaccine for those ages 12-15,  Chester County Health Department officials will offer the Pfizer vaccine at its walk-in or drive-thru clinic locations, with or without an appointment, from Thursday morning, May 13. From Thursday, May 13, the Pfizer vaccine will be available without the need for...

Chester County opens walk-in sites for COVID vaccine

Chester County Health Department officials announced a number of COVID-19 vaccine clinics now offer walk-in vaccinations.   County health officials encourage everyone who is eligible, but has not yet received the vaccine, to take advantage of this free, convenient option. From Friday, May 7, the Health Department’s walk-in vaccine clinic at the Exton Square Mall (former Sears store) will offer...

A tale of two countries tells us the vaccine works; get your shot if you haven’t yet

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa It’s May and flowers (and pollen, achoo) are blooming everywhere in Chester County. You know what else is blooming: optimism that the worst of the COVID-19 is over in our area and we are working our way past this pandemic. If you want a shot, you pretty much can walk up in a number of locations and get one. About 65% of the adult population of the...

Pa., Chesco pause use of J&J COVID vaccine

Following a recommendation from the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), both the state of Pennsylvania and Chester County announced Tuesday that their respective health departments would pause vaccinations using the Johnson & Johnson Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, pending a study of a rare but dangerous blood clotting issue that may be related to...

Wolf: Starting tomorrow (April 13) all 16+ eligible for COVID vaccine in Pa.

Pennsylvania will beat by nearly a week a federal mandate to open vaccines to all over age 16, by doing so tomorrow April 13, Gov, Tom Wolf said Monday. “We need to maintain acceleration of the vaccine rollout, especially as case counts and hospitalization rates have increased,” Wolf said in a statement. “Therefore, just as President (Joe) Biden has brought forward universal adult access...

Get over it: COVID passports are going to happen

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa On this Easter Sunday — one that feels a whole lot different than the one a year ago — there is both hope and fear. We’re close. More than a third of the adult population of Pennsylvania, as of Saturday, has had at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, with thousands more happening daily. Just short of 2 million have had both shots. Supply,...

State to open vaccine appointments to all by April 19

Updates to add comment from Chester County Commissioners, 4:30 pm If you’ve been waiting for your chance at the COVID-19 vaccine, every resident of the state over age 16 will be eligible to schedule an appointment, but residents in the southeastern portion of the state may still find it tough to get an available appointment, as supply in the commonwealth still trails supply. The move speeds...

Chesco Health launches new vaccine reg. system; everyone in 1A eligible for appointments

WEST CHESTER — The Chester County Health Department has launched a new vaccine registration system for its COVID-19 vaccine program. The new system helps everyone who has already registered with the county health department to easily book a vaccine appointment, and ensures appointments are allocated specifically to the individuals who are being contacted. An email sent this morning to all Phase...