Phase 1a divided into four groups; broad definition of “medical staff”
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) – As COVID-19 immunizations began around the state this week, the Oregon Health Authority said Friday that it has finalized recommendations for who will be the first to receive doses of new COVID-19 vaccines.
Oregon’s Phase 1a COVID-19 Vaccine Plan and Recommended Sequencing aligns with the Federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the guidelines for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for large groups to be included in the initial phase of vaccine distribution, OHA said in a press release, which continues in full lower:
With a focus on health equity, the plan adds more granularity to federal recommendations and highlights specific populations within broad groups – and across a wide range of health settings – that should be the focus for vaccination “when considering resource allocation. rare criticisms of a public health crisis such as COVID-19. “
The plan also creates a framework for the distribution and sequencing of COVID-19 vaccines throughout Oregon based on equity, individual, environmental, and activity factors that put people at greater risk of contracting or spreading the virus or spreading the virus. had serious health consequences.
“This plan helps us ensure that we follow our own principles of health equity as we strive to meet our priorities for vaccine distribution during this first critical phase,” said Dana Hargunani, MD, MPH, senior medical officer of OHA.
These priorities include ensuring access to the vaccine for those who are included in Phase 1a and wish to be vaccinated, and that information on COVID-19 vaccines is widely available in a linguistically accessible and culturally responsive way.
As stated in the plan, these priorities are essential “to address the diversity of people living in Oregon and to alleviate historical and contemporary injustice and the stigmatization of communities of color, tribal communities, people with disabilities and long-term mistrust.” system and distrust of vaccines “.
The plan divides Phase 1a into four groups. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Group 1: Hospitals; urgent care; qualified nurses and health care providers and residents; tribal health programs; emergency medical service providers and other first responders.
- Group 2: Other long-term care facilities and congruent care sites, including health care providers and residents; hospice programs; mobile crisis care services and related services; individuals working in a correctional setting; staff of group homes for children or adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Group 3: Outpatient settings serving specific high-risk groups; in home care; day treatment services; medical transport without emergency.
- Group 4: Healthcare staff working in other outpatient and public health settings.
The types of individuals or settings within each group are not listed in a special order and do not indicate a planned “group” sequence, but are intended to be competitive, as the logistics and availability of vaccine doses allow, as planned.
In addition, the plan calls for the broadest definition of “medical staff”, as emphasized by ACIP and the CDC, which includes contract staff who are not employed in a unit.
In total, OHA expects between 300,000 and 400,000 people to have access to COVID-19 vaccination during phase 1a. Work is ongoing to further estimate the number of people in each phase 1a group.
OHA also continues to work with state agencies and community partners to communicate extensively about Phase 1a plans and to develop detailed distribution plans for all potential Phase 1a beneficiaries.
The OHA Equity Vaccine Advisory Committee will inform the next phases of vaccine distribution beyond phase 1a to include critical workers, people with underlying health conditions and those over 65 years of age. The general population is not expected to be eligible for vaccination until sometime in the spring of 2021.
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Be informed about COVID-19:
Oregon Response: The Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Office of Emergency Management are leading the state’s response.
US Response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is leading the US response.
Global response: The World Health Organization is guiding the global response.