DPH Finalizes Phase 1B of Vaccine Allocation
The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) has finalized its recommendations for Phase 1b, the next groups who will be considered eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. These groups include frontline essential workers and persons 65 and older. Currently, the state is in Phase 1a of vaccine rollout which includes vaccinations for health care personnel with direct contact with ill patients or infectious material, emergency medical services agencies, and long-term care staff and residents.
Vaccination for Phase 1b groups is expected to begin by the end of January. In early December, DPH announced it would make the vaccine available in several phases. Important determining factors for each phase would include determining who is at greatest risk for death and illness from the virus, ensuring equitable distribution of the vaccine, and maintaining the functioning of critical health care systems. How many does of the vaccine each group would be able to get is dependent upon vaccine supply.
Click here to view Delaware's COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Framework.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted on Dec. 20, 2020, that Phase 1b should include frontline essential workers and persons 75 years and older. ACIP defines frontline essential workers as: First Responders (Firefighters, Police), Education (teachers, support staff, child care staff), Food and Agriculture, Manufacturing, Corrections workers, U.S. Postal Service workers, public transit workers, and grocery store workers.
As is currently the case with health care workers to whom the vaccine has been distributed, leaders in these industries will be asked to identify which of their staff should receive the vaccine before others based on factors such as frequent close contact with the public, and inability to social distance consistently at work. DPH is already working with several of these groups to assist them in their planning to secure vaccination partners. Frontline essential workforce leaders in these categories who have not heard from DPH are encouraged to visit the Agencies, Organizations, and Businesses section of de.gov/covidvaccine and complete the Planning Survey for Organizations with Essential Workforces.
On Dec. 22, the State Ethics Advisory Group voted to recommend adopting the ACIP Phase 1b approach. However, DPH decided to lower the age the state would consider eligible in Phase 1b from 75 to 65 based on statewide COVID-related deaths. While the median age for deaths among White and Asian persons is 82 and 83 respectively, the median age for deaths among Blacks is 74 and it is 66 for Hispanic individuals.
The State Ethics Advisory Group did not address any other groups, but it is expected to vote on a Phase 1c group soon. Vaccine is estimated to begin to be available for some individuals in Phase 1b groups in mid- to late January; DPH will provide updates on timing as they become available.
Click here to view Delaware's COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Framework.