COVID-19 Vaccination Planning is Underway
Yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted 17-4 (with one abstention) to grant emergency use authorization (EUA) to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services announced this morning that FDA has notified Pfizer that it is immediately proceeding with the recommendation to grant EUA. Vaccinations are expected to begin within the next few days.
Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and the City of Berkeley have submitted initial plans to the State of California in accordance with the “CDPH Allocation Guidelines for COVID-19 Vaccine During Phase 1A: Recommendations.” According to these guidelines, phase 1A (the highest priority) of allocation should be offered to: persons at risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 through their work in any role in direct health care or long-term care settings (including persons at direct risk of exposure in their non-clinical roles); and residents of skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and similar long-term care settings for older or medically vulnerable individuals.
The initial allotment of vaccine will not be sufficient to vaccinate all of the individuals covered in those categories. Accordingly, the State has provided guidance on prioritization of individuals within those categories.
Tier 1
- Acute care, psychiatric and correctional facility hospitals
- Skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and similar settings for older or medically vulnerable individuals
- Also, in concordance with ACIP, residents in these settings
- Paramedics, EMTs and others providing emergency medical services
- Dialysis centers
Tier 2
- Intermediate care facilities for persons who need non-continuous nursing supervision and supportive care
- Home health care and in-home supportive services
- Community health workers, including promotoras
- Public health field staff
- Primary Care clinics, including Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Centers, correctional facility clinics, and urgent care clinics
Tier 3: Other settings and health care workers, including:
- Specialty clinics
- Laboratory workers
- Dental and other oral health clinics
- Pharmacy staff not working in settings at higher tiers
Currently, local jurisdictions are focusing on vaccinations among the Tier 1 group. For physicians and other providers practicing in these settings, vaccinations will be prioritized and coordinated through the hospital/health system in which you practice (or in some cases by the County itself).
The Counties are still developing plans for subsequent tiers, and we anticipate that there will be a registration process announced in the near future. The ACCMA will continue to monitor developments and will provide updated guidance to members as appropriate.
CDPH will also be holding weekly “office hours” to provide an update on COVID-19 vaccination planning and allow providers in the state to ask questions, on Fridays from 9-10 a.m. and can be accessed through this link. The event number is: 145 583 3915. The password is: Immunize2020!
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact ACCMA at 510-654-5383 or accma@accma.org.
