Western PA Regional CMO Consortium: A Call for All to get Vaccinated Against COVID 19 – Finishing the Job

On behalf of our hospitals and health care systems, we strongly recommend everyone get vaccinated against COVID 19. We do not have enough vaccine participation yet to create the collective protection we all seek, protection that will allow us to have more normal lifestyles.

Each vaccine available – from Moderna (2 doses), Pfizer (2 doses), and from Johnson & Johnson (a single dose) – is well studied and offers safe, excellent protection from severe illness. The temporary pause taken last week with one vaccine to assess a very rare (about 1 in a million) potential blood clot issues highlights the careful nature of our approach. The risk of serious illness, including blood clots or other problems – even in the young – is much higher if you get COVID -19 infection than if you get the vaccine. And, if you skip vaccination, you are much more likely to get COVID 19 and be harmed.

Wondering about the safety of any care is wise. That is why we are sharing the evidence, which is clear: These vaccines protect many people and have very little risk – it is far safer to get vaccinated than to get COVID-19.

To keep you safe and to keep others safe, get a vaccine as soon as possible – we have supplies and vaccination clinics ready for you. Go to or contact whichever vaccination provider that is easiest for you; if you have a concern, ask your doctor or call ahead for advice. We want you to be safe.

Please encourage all 16 years old and older in your family and among your friends to get a vaccine. We will get this pandemic behind us if we all finish this last step.

The Southwestern PA Regional CMO Consortium:

Donald M. Whiting, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Allegheny Health Network

Donald M. Yealy, MD
Chief Medical Officer
UPMC

Carol J. Fox, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Excela Health System

David Rottinghaus, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Butler Health System

Michael Cratty, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Heritage Valley Health System

John Sullivan, MD
Chief Medical Officer
St. Clair Hospital

John Six, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Washington Health System

Ali F. Sonel, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Pittsburgh VA Health System

Elizabeth Dunmore, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Conemaugh Health System

Russell Cameron, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Penn Highlands Healthcare

Richard K. Neff, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Indiana Regional Medical Center

James W. Backstrom, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Armstrong Co. Memorial Hospital