That would put those people in “Phase 1b” of the nationwide vaccine allocation.
The committee vote also gave priority to adults ages 65 to 75, people ages 16 to 64 with high-risk medical conditions, and “other essential workers” in “Phase 1c” of assignment.
“They really serve to address the current lack of vaccine supply and target those individuals with the highest risk of disease,” said Dr. José Romero, chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Health, of the recommendations. .
The Immunization Practices Advisory Committee met on Sunday to discuss phases 1b and 1c of vaccine distribution.
There are two Covid-19 vaccines – Pfizer / BioNTech’s and Moderna’s – that are currently approved for emergency use in the United States.
Who is an essential worker?
A working group within the advisory committee defined frontline workers as “workers in sectors essential to the functioning of society and at significantly higher risk of exposure” to the coronavirus that causes Covid-19.
The essential primary care workers in Phase 1b include first responders, those in the education sector, those who work in the food and agriculture sectors, those in manufacturing, correction workers, U.S. mail carriers, public transportation workers, and grocery store personnel.
It is estimated that in the United States there are about 30 million essential workers on the front lines.
The category of other key workers in phase 1c includes people in transportation and logistics, food service, construction and shelter and housing, finance, IT and communications, the energy, media, legal, public safety, water and wastewater industries.
It is estimated that there are about 57 million other essential workers in the United States.
The ‘hardest’ voice
“This is without a doubt the most difficult vote I’ve gotten in my six and a half years on committee,” said Romero.
“I am convinced that we have come to this by scrutinizing the data thoroughly, and that what we provide – as stated earlier – will be the final decision at the local level. But what we provide to governors and health officials with is a framework, that’s supported by evidence, ”said Romero.
He voted “yes” to the proposed phase 1b and 1c recommendations.
Commissioner Dr. Peter Szilagyi, who also voted “yes”, agreed that the decision was difficult.
“I really wish everyone could get the vaccine today, and I know that high-risk individuals are not included in Stage 1b,” said Szilagyi, who works in the pediatrics department at the University of California Los Angeles. “But for several months, as the supply of vaccines increases, every American will have access to these safe and effective vaccines.”
The only “no” vote came from Dr. Henry Bernstein, who is a professor of pediatrics at the Zucker School of Medicine in Hofstra. Bernstein explained that he voted no because he felt that the science of Covid-19 morbidity and mortality is similar between the 65 to 74 age group and the 75 and older group.
“Therefore, inclusion of the 65-74 year old group in phase 1b made more sense to me,” said Bernstein.
The need for financing
In their vote, most committee members also asked the government to fully fund the vaccination programs of the state and local health departments.
“The fact that the national and local health departments have not been funded for the vaccination program, especially in the context of the billions of dollars that have funded the highly successful vaccine development program, is truly appalling,” said Dr. Beth Bell, who voted “yes” to the proposal.
“I am only one person, but I would like to say again that I hope the government will address this discrepancy, without which I think it will be very difficult for us to be successful,” said Bell, a clinical professor at the US. global health department of the University of Washington.
The advisory committee’s recommendations for phases 1b and 1c then go to the CDC for final acceptance.