People across the world received relatively good news about the coronavirus pandemic this week, as Pfizer and Moderna both announced positive results for their COVID-19 vaccine trials.
News picked up soon after reports the novel coronavirus vaccine would soon be available for at-risk individuals, likely beginning in December. The rest of the population will likely see the vaccine distributed between March and July 2021.
Keeping track of who gets the COVID-19 vaccine first can be confusing. USA Today has shared information from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine that has come up with a plan for how to distribute.
Here’s how it breaks down:
Phase 1a (5% of U.S. population):
- Front-line health workers
- Ambulance drivers
- Cleaners
- First responders
Phase 1b (10% of the population):
- Those with underlying conditions that put them at high risk.
- Those with two or more chronic conditions.
- People 65 and older in group living facilities.
Phase 2 (30% to 35% of population):
- Teachers and child care workers
- Those with an underlying condition that pits them at moderately higher risk.
- All people under 65 in prisons, jails and detention centers.
Phase 3 (40 to 45% of the population):
- Young adults
- Children
- People who work at hotels, banks, higher education, factories
Phase 4 (5 to 15% of the population):
- Everyone else
Until then ...
Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said recently that the calvary is coming with the COVID-19 vaccine. But until then, people need to stay vigilant.
- “I’ve used that metaphor that the cavalry is on the way,” said Fauci, according to The Hill. “If you’re fighting a battle, and the cavalry is on the way, you don’t stop shooting. You keep going until the calvary gets here.”