HARRISBURG, Pa. — Note: The video is from Jan. 20.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health's online COVID-19 vaccination map no longer shows information about which providers have received vaccine doses.
The interactive map had been showing that information since its launch on Jan. 11, but stopped doing so sometime over the weekend.
Prior to last weekend, the state map indicated providers that had received doses with green dots. Those who had not received doses were marked with red dots.
Now all vaccine providers on the map are marked with blue dots -- whether they've received doses or not.
The change could make it more difficult for those hoping to schedule vaccination appointments to narrow down nearby providers who have received doses of the vaccine.
Why the change?
The Department of Health said the switch to blue dots was to eliminate the "false hope" that the color of the dot on the map was an assurance that vaccine was available.
In many cases, a department spokesperson said, only the provider knows if they have appointments available or not.
"We are continually working to improve the resources available to connect people to vaccine providers to schedule a vaccination appointment," Department of Health spokesperson Maggi Barton told FOX43. "The use of blue dots indicates where there are enrolled vaccine providers. Because in many cases only the providers know if they have appointments available or not, we felt that this change would be the best representation for the public.
"Anyone seeking to schedule an appointment should check with the provider to see if they have vaccine and appointments available."