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

Phase 1-B vaccination against COVID-19, which began Monday across the island, is made up of various population groups totaling about 600,000 people, according to estimates from the Department of Health and National Guard of Puerto Rico.

This phase includes people aged 65 or over who do not live in congregated settings (long-term care centers or nursing homes). To vaccinate this population, Salud has published a list of 56 providers of health services, such as primary service centers, clinics and hospitals, who already have a hotline that citizens can contact for a vaccination meeting, and that they have already received the vaccine or are close to receiving it.

“Older adults will start being vaccinated at authorized health care providers by appointment,” the agency reported. “We encourage you to communicate in advance to find out the day you can be vaccinated.”

Dr. Iris Cardona, director of the COVID-19 Health Vaccination Program, stressed that vaccination of older adults will begin with “those over 75 years of age.” Cardona also indicated that “not all facilities have the vaccines in their possession today, the distribution is made with the arrival of the vaccines and on this day they will be distributed”.

This phase also includes front-line workers, understanders, police officers, emergency medical staff, emergency management, firefighters, correctional guards, among others. Health reported yesterday that, in principle, it was agreed with the Department of Public Safety (DSP) that at least 300 workers of that umbrella be attended daily in each of the six regional vaccination centers operated by members of the National Guard.

The centers are located in:

– Coliseito Pedrín Zorrilla in San Juan

– Rubén Rodríguez College in Bayamón

– Caguas Center for Fine Arts

– Mayagüez Palace of Sports

– Salvador Dijols Coliseum in Ponce

– Coliseo Manuel “Petaca” Iguina de Arecibo.

Under the DSP umbrella are the Puerto Rican Police, the Office of Emergency Management and Disaster Management, the Emergency Medical Corps, the Fire Department, the 911 Office and the Office of Special Investigations (NIE).

The teacher’s vaccination begins

In Phase 1-B, staff in the education, public and private systems will also be vaccinated. The National Guard estimates approximately 60,000, the population corresponding to the Department of Education, the private system and the staff of the Head Start program. Vaccination of this group will begin next Monday, January 18, in seven centers.

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

“What we will do is divide the operation, part of it will continue to be for first responders and health professionals, and secondly, we will work with what the Department of Education is,” Reyes said.

In addition, Phase 1-B includes manufacturing employees (medicines, medical equipment and other types of manufacturing) and postal service employees. Similarly, public transporters and food chain workers (processing, supermarkets and ports) will be vaccinated. Reyes explained that the food chain group includes staff from the agricultural, poultry and livestock industries.

“There are various initiatives on how we will impact everything, it all depends on the flow of vaccines, but we feel comfortable maximizing the vaccines that arrive in Puerto Rico weekly. If more arrive, we have a plan to implement and we will be able to expand the number of people we vaccinate weekly “, assured Reyes.

The adjudicator general explained that the phase also includes the municipal police from the 78 municipalities, as well as the order and order staff of the federal government on the island. For the latter group, two centers will be set up next Monday, one in the Federal Court in Hato Rey and the other in the headquarters of the organization in the area of ​​drug trafficking intensity (HIDTA) in Guaynabo, which groups workers from various federal agencies. The National Guard estimates that the population is 3,000, a group that would have been vaccinated in a period between seven and ten days.