COVID-19 vaccines can go to lower priority groups if doses about to expire, CA health officials say


COVID-19 vaccines can go to lower priority groups if doses about to expire, CA health officials say

The California Department of Public Health issued new vaccine recommendations on Thursday meant to increase the pace of COVID-19 vaccine administrations.State health officials recommend health departments and providers offer doses to lower priority groups when doses are about to expire or when high-priority demand subsides.Local health departments are also asked to immediately administer vaccines to all individuals in Phase 1A, which include health care workers and long-term care residents. “In addition to frontline health care workers, this includes a wide range of people in health care settings such as community health care workers, public health field staff, primary care clinics, specialty clinics, laboratory workers, dental clinics and pharmacy staff,” CDPH said in its daily release of COVID-19 numbers. Once a county has offered and administered vaccinations in one tier, they should move on to the next tier while still offering vaccines in the higher priority groups, CDPH said.On Wednesday during a meeting with the Community Vaccine Advisory Committee, CDPH acting state health officer Dr. Erica Pan said California planned to administer vaccines to 1 million more people within the next 10 days.Dr. Robert Schechter with CDPH said that he expected an announcement “very soon” about when the next group of people would be vaccinated as part of the state’s next phase, 1B Tier One.Here is the latest guidance about the state’s vaccinations tiers: Other Californians, people not considered part of Phase 1, are expected to be able to start getting vaccinated in spring 2021, according to state estimates. The state recommends people coordinate with their health care provider.The state has set up a hotline where people can ask questions about the vaccine. That number is 833-422-4255.As of Thursday, the state reported more than 2.5 million cases of COVID-19 and 28,045 COVID-related deaths.The San Joaquin Valley and Southern California regions continue to have 0% ICU capacity. All regions, except for Northern California, remain under Regional Stay-at-home orders.

The California Department of Public Health issued new vaccine recommendations on Thursday meant to increase the pace of COVID-19 vaccine administrations.

State health officials recommend health departments and providers offer doses to lower priority groups when doses are about to expire or when high-priority demand subsides.

Local health departments are also asked to immediately administer vaccines to all individuals in Phase 1A, which include health care workers and long-term care residents.

“In addition to frontline health care workers, this includes a wide range of people in health care settings such as community health care workers, public health field staff, primary care clinics, specialty clinics, laboratory workers, dental clinics and pharmacy staff,” CDPH said in its daily release of COVID-19 numbers.

Once a county has offered and administered vaccinations in one tier, they should move on to the next tier while still offering vaccines in the higher priority groups, CDPH said.

On Wednesday during a meeting with the Community Vaccine Advisory Committee, CDPH acting state health officer Dr. Erica Pan said California planned to administer vaccines to 1 million more people within the next 10 days.

Dr. Robert Schechter with CDPH said that he expected an announcement “very soon” about when the next group of people would be vaccinated as part of the state’s next phase, 1B Tier One.

Here is the latest guidance about the state’s vaccinations tiers:

Phase 1B

Phase 1C

Other Californians, people not considered part of Phase 1, are expected to be able to start getting vaccinated in spring 2021, according to state estimates. The state recommends people coordinate with their health care provider.

The state has set up a hotline where people can ask questions about the vaccine. That number is 833-422-4255.

As of Thursday, the state reported more than 2.5 million cases of COVID-19 and 28,045 COVID-related deaths.

The San Joaquin Valley and Southern California regions continue to have 0% ICU capacity. All regions, except for Northern California, remain under Regional Stay-at-home orders.


Source link