State of Utah Announces Updated Plans for Vaccine Distribution
December 28, 2020
Essential Worker Criteria No Longer Being Considered
Today the State of Utah released updated plans for First Wave of Phase 2 COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution. Notably the press release states that “prioritization based on an individual’s employment status in certain industries is no longer being considered by the Unified Command group.” Instead, it appears the criteria being applied prioritizes age groups and health conditions as the driving criteria. The press release also states “prioritization of subsequent waves in Phase 2 is still being considered, and will likely include prioritization by additional age groups, residents with certain underlying medical conditions, and certain residents who live in congregate settings.”
Phase 1 of Utah’s COVID-19 vaccination program began in early December covering hospital healthcare workers, long-term care facility residents and staff, non-hospital healthcare workers, public health and tribal healthcare workers. Later in Phase 1, expected to be in late January, K-12 teachers and school staff, along with first responders will begin receiving vaccines. Once Phase 1 is complete the focus will shift to the newly announced priorities in Phase 2 with residents 75 and over being first in line followed by “additional age groups, residents with certain underlying medical conditions, and certain residents who live in congregate settings.”
The federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Essential Critical Infrastructure Worker classifications are no longer being considered in the prioritization process. The CISA guidance has, until now, been a key resource document in prioritizing responses to COVID-19. Recommendations from the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee as well as Utah’s initial vaccine distribution plan had referenced “essential workers.”
BioUtah has previously communicated to the Unified Command the position that industry workers providing critical medical supplies, research efforts, laboratory services and surgical suite support should be prioritized in the vaccination process. View essential worker letter here. View laboratory personnel letter here.
BioUtah will continue to seek further clarification of the updated Phase 2 prioritization described in today’s press release and keep our life sciences community apprised of developments.