COVID-19 Vaccine rollout plan becoming more clear
Many persons with a disability have been anxiously awaiting for the news on when they’re likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and although the road map is becoming clearer, the actual dates of distribution are still very much in a state of flux. What has become more confusing is reports of certain health providers already making the vaccine available to anyone who comes to their clinics. But the wild card is the supply and distribution of the available vaccines that would dictate the schedule of release. And with the just-announced plans to completely release every dose of vaccine without saving any for the second dose, plans continue to evolve.
Right now, the front-line health care workers and residents at long-term care facilities who are in the Phase 1A groups will need to have completed their vaccinations, which require two injections about three weeks apart. This includes personal care assistant and attendants/caregivers enrolled in the state’s In-Home Support Services (IHSS) program. The next phase, 1B, would be split into two tiers. Tier 1 would focus on people ages 75 and older, and workers in education, child care, emergency services, food and agriculture. This should start taking place within the next few weeks as supplies of vaccines increase over the next few weeks. Phase 1B Tier 2 would include older adults ages 65-plus, workers in transportation and logistics, industrial, residential and commercial sheltering facilities and services, critical manufacturing, incarcerated individuals and homeless people.
A third group, Phase 1C, would include people ages 50 and older, 16- to 49-year-olds with underlying medical conditions and/or a disability, workers in water and waste management, defense, energy, communication and IT, financial services, chemicals and hazardous materials, government operations and community service. There is no timeline available for when this group would begin receiving their first dose of the vaccine.
Determining when to move to another vaccination tier requires evaluation of progress and the success rate of receiving, planning and coordinating doses, their distribution and administration. When to move to another tier will also be determined through feedback from vaccinators. Health officials will ask whether more vaccines are needed for the current tiers and if there is new demand from previous tiers. Health officials must also coordinate with state and adjacent local health jurisdictions, look at obtaining additional doses and coordinate with vaccinators to order the new doses.
For the most current update on the rollout of the vaccination and other questions, visit the State’s COVID-19 website HERE.