Looks like the Pennsylvania Health Dept is playing games with the COVID vaccine. They are cutting distribution to smaller practices even though there have been no issues with them.
Among the doctors who will likely be affected by the policy shift — the biggest by the state Health Department since the vaccines were first rolled out in December — is Natalie Gentile, who operates Gentile Family Direct Primary Care in Highland Park.
Dr. Gentile receives vaccine from Direct Care Physicians of Pittsburgh, a group of doctors who don’t accept health insurance, but rather charge patients a monthly fee for medical care.
Dr. Gentile’s practice received its order for 300 second doses of the vaccine last week, but not the 200 first-shot doses that she’d also requested. It’s unclear whether the department is ending first-shot dose shipments to her practice, she said.
“We used every single drop of our vaccine,” Dr. Gentile said. “Now, we’re not going to be allowed to do what we’re best at. We don’t have the big influence; we just have the heart and care about the community.”
It is nice to see doctors banding together like Direct Care Physicians of Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, small DPC practices, like Gentile Family Direct Primary Care, are little ants compared to the other monstrosities that make up our broken healthcare system.
Keep fighting the good fight, Dr. Gentile. We are rooting for you.