Vaccine Distribution: “Most of us will need to be patient until it’s our turn”
Written by Taylor on January 4, 2021
Over the coming weeks and months Wyoming’s phased approach to providing free, safe and effective vaccinations to help prevent future COVID-19 infections will continue for established priority groups based on availability.
Phase 1 is intended for when vaccine supply is limited and with doses being allocated for specific populations. As of now the state remains focused on priority groups for Phase 1A in Wyoming and those included in this phase are:
Healthcare workers with regular potential for exposure to COVID-19 patients or infectious materials as well as residents and staff of long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities and residential care facilities for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. A special, targeted effort involving pharmacy chains to help vaccinate residents of many Wyoming nursing homes and assisted living facilities is planned for early January.
Phase 1B vaccination priorities have been set and include people who are 70 years of age or older and frontline essential workers who must interact with the public and are unable to consistently physically distance from others.
The department of health used the latest guidance from the CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, as well as recommendations from the department of health Medical Ethics Committee to identify and list priority groups.
Officials said that priority groups and vaccine ordering are handled at the state level, while vaccinations are coordinated at the county level by local health departments and their community partners.
State health officer Dr. Alexia Harrist said “Details on exactly where a county is with their progress through the priority group listings and specific vaccine availability and distribution information will largely be more available locally than from the state.”
Dr. Harrist stated “Places like website postings, media announcements and information from employers and partner groups are among the ongoing communication activities expected to be used for updates on local vaccine availability.”
She continued to say “I’m excited about recommending these vaccines and know many people are anxious to receive them, but this is a process with many steps and most of us will need to be patient until it’s our turn. For now and for some months to come, we all need to continue wearing masks, social distancing and staying home when we are ill as we take steps toward ending this pandemic and getting things back to normal.”
