Doses received by WCCHD will go toward those eligible for Phase 1A vaccination: firefighters who engage in 9-1-1 emergency services like pre-hospital care, last responders who provide mortuary or death services to decedents with COVID-19 and school nurses who provide health care to students and teachers, the release said.
“Having the vaccine finally gives us hope for a future without COVID[-19],” Dr. Lori Palazzo, WCCHD Medical Director and Health Authority, said in the release. “We are excited to be able to offer this vaccine to those who put themselves at risk for our community."
Closed vaccination clinics will begin operations immediately after Christmas, and WCCHD will release further details closer to the date, the release said, adding Phase 1B vaccine recipients will likely be able to get the vaccine starting in January 2021. These include people 65 years of age and older, and people over age 16 with at least one chronic medical condition that puts them at greater risk.
The release said the general public should expect the vaccine to be available to anyone in the spring, but that may change depending on vaccine production and how quickly other vaccines become available.
