COVID-19 vaccine not yet available for the general population
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK) - As frontline medical workers begin to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, you may be wondering when your chance will come.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is following the national recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. It is developing advice on the use of each COVID-19 vaccine authorized or approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
It includes an evidence-based method for assessing a vaccine’s safety and efficacy.
It is also recommending which groups of people should receive the earliest allocations. It is using four basic principles to do that.
They are:
- Maximize benefits and minimize harms
- Promote justice
- Mitigate health inequities
- Promote transparency.
"This first batch of vaccines will protect our front-line healthcare workers so they can help our hospitals withstand the current winter COVID-19 wave and save as many lives as possible," Southeastern Idaho Public Health Director Maggie Mann said. "Now is the time to double down on our efforts to slow the spread of the virus, so that we can all stay healthy until there is enough vaccine for everyone. We ask that you choose to stay the course and continue to take the necessary precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19. That means wearing face covering, practicing 6 ft. social distancing, washing your hands frequently, staying home when you have symptoms, avoiding gatherings, and postponing travel.”
Idaho’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee is advising Governor Brad Little and assisting state officials with a prioritization of vaccines, implementation of a vaccination plan, communication and delivery of vaccine, and ensuring equitable access across the state.
The department has devised a prioritization ranking. You can see the plan here.
If you have other questions about the vaccine and Idaho’s plan for administering it, you’ll likely find answers here.
At this time, regional hospitals are only vaccinating their own employees and are not providing vaccine to patients or community members.
“Many of us are eager to receive the vaccine, and we want to make sure people have accurate and timely information," Mann said. “We will continue to communicate with our community as we learn more. We will share information on our website, social media, and the public is always welcome to contact our COVID-19 Hotline at 208-234-5875 for more information.”
Schedules for public vaccination have not yet been released, but it is likely those vaccinations will be done through retail pharmacies and private physicians.
It is expected that the vaccine will be free to all.
