What are the populations included in Phase 1-B of vaccination against COVID-19?

Phase 1-B vaccination against COVID-19, which began islandwide on Monday, consists of several populations totaling about 600,000 people, according to estimates by the Department of Health and the Puerto Rico National Guard.

This phase includes people aged 65 or older who do not live in a composite environment (long-term care centers or nursing homes). For the vaccination of this population, Salud published a list of 56 providers offering health services, such as primary service centers, clinics and hospitals, who already have a telephone line where citizens can contact for a vaccination appointment, and that they have already received the vaccine or almost get it.

“Older adults will be vaccinated by appointment with licensed health care providers,” the agency said. “We recommend that you communicate in advance to know the day you can get vaccinated.”

Dr. Iris Cardona, director of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program in Health, stressed that the vaccination of older adults will start with “those over 75 years old”. Cardona also indicated that “not all facilities have the vaccines in their possession today, distribution will take place as soon as the vaccines arrive and will be distributed during this day.”

This stage includes frontline workers, comprehensible personnel, police, emergency medical personnel, emergency management, firefighters, correctional guards among others. Health reported yesterday that it has been agreed in principle with the Department of Public Security (DSP) that at least 300 workers of that umbrella will be attended daily in each of the six regional vaccination centers run by members of the National Guard.

The centers are located in:

– Coliseíto Pedrín Zorrilla in San Juan

– Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum in Bayamón

– Palace of Fine Arts in Caguas

– Palace of Sport in Mayagüez

– Salvador Dijols Coliseum in Ponce

– Colosseum Manuel “Petaca” Iguina de Arecibo.

Under the umbrella of the DSP are the Puerto Rico Police Department, the Bureau for Emergency Management and Disaster Administration, the Medical Emergency Corps, Firefighters, the 911 Bureau, and the Special Investigations Bureau (NIE).

The teacher’s vaccination begins

Phase 1-B also vaccinates the staff of the educational, public and private systems. The National Guard estimates about 60,000, the population corresponds to the Ministry of Education, the private system, and the Head Start program staff. The vaccination of this group will start next Monday, January 18 in seven centers.

National Guard Adjutant General José Reyes reported that four of them will be housed in primary health centers known as “Centros 330”, notably in San Juan, Loíza, Barranquitas and Arroyo. These centers will be supported by educational nurses and members of the National Guard. Teaching and non-teaching personnel will also be vaccinated in the regional centers of the National Guard in Ponce, Mayagüez and Arecibo.

“What we are going to do is divide the operation, one side will remain for the first responders and health workers, and on the other side we will work with the Department of Education,” said Reyes.

In addition, Phase 1-B includes production workers (medicines, medical equipment and other types of manufacturing) and postal workers. Likewise, public transporters and workers in the food chain (processing, supermarkets and ports) will be vaccinated. The food chain group includes personnel from the agricultural, poultry and livestock sectors, Reyes explains.

“There are several initiatives on how we’re going to affect them all, it all depends on the flow of vaccines, but we feel comfortable maximizing the vaccines that arrive in Puerto Rico every week. If more arrive, we have a plan to export and increase the number of people we vaccinate every week, ”assured Reyes.

The adjutant general explained that the phase also includes the municipal police of the 78 municipalities, as well as the federal government order personnel on the island. For the latter group, two centers will be established from next Monday, one in the federal court in Hato Rey, and the other at the headquarters of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) organization in Guaynabo, which employs employees of the various federal agencies. The National Guard estimates that population at 3,000, a group that would be vaccinated over a period of seven to 10 days.