Residents of Chester County can now preregister for the COVID-19 vaccine by completing a form found on the Chester County Health Department's COVID-19 web page. The form, for all individuals age 16 and over who live and work in Chester County, can be found at http://www.chesco.org/covidvaccine.

Completion of the form conveys a person's interest in receiving the vaccine, and the information provided helps the health department to place individuals into the Phase 1A, 1B, 1C and 2 categories. The recent change in Phase 1A groups, announced by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, led the Chester County Health Department to revise its original preregistration survey, moving it away from just Phases 1A and 1B and opening preregistration to all who live and work in Chester County.

Because of the state's changes in Phase 1A groups, everyone who falls into the group defined as "ages 16 to 64 with medical conditions" is asked to complete the form again to ensure they are moved to Phase 1A. Everyone who submits a preregistration form will receive a confirmation and regular updates regarding the status of vaccine distribution in Chester County.

The Chester County Health Department opens appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine based on the availability of vaccine to administer. Additional vaccination sites - beyond the current site at the Chester County Government Services Center in West Chester - have been secured and were scheduled to begin operating recently as vaccine supplies allowed.

For Chester County's comprehensive COVID-19 information and updates, including testing locations and times, data, and mapping, as well as vaccine information, readers may visit http://www.chesco.org/coronavirus.