Hi all,
HAPPY 2021! I hope you return rested and re-energized for your important work. We must be vigilant as we weary of protective measures and the NC infection rates rise dramatically.
I have received many questions about vaccine priorities and hope this information will be helpful, you must check with your LEA’s/PSU’s administration AND local health department to verify this is their interpretation and obtain specific details. NC DPI ECD is not responsible for these decisions, this interpretation of CDC guidance for NC and is provided for informational purposes ONLY.
- Phase 1A: Health care workers specifically dealing with COVID and residents or staff of long-term care facilities [currently receiving vaccine]
- Phase 1B-
- Group 1: People over 75 years old
- Group 2: Health care and front-line essential workers over 50 years old*
- Group 3: Health care and front-line essential workers of any age*
- Phase 2 (CDC Phase 1c)-
- Group 1: People 65-74 years old
- Group 2: People 16-64 years old with a high risk medical condition
- Group 3: Anyone in a close group living setting or incarcerated
- Group 4: Essential workers not yet vaccinated (includes government employees)
- Phase 3: University/College students, K-12 students (pending vaccine approved for children) and essential workers at lower risk of exposure
- Phase 4: Anyone who wants a vaccine
*CDC defines ‘front-line essential workers’ as:
- First responders (e.g., police officers, EMS, Firefighters)
- Educational staff and child care workers (teachers and support staff)
- Corrections officers, among others…(please follow link above for complete list of examples provided)
and
Healthcare professional (HCP): HCP refers to all paid and unpaid persons serving in healthcare settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials, including body substances (e.g., blood, tissue, and specific body fluids); contaminated medical supplies, devices, and equipment; contaminated environmental surfaces; or contaminated air. HCP include, but are not limited to, emergency medical service personnel, nurses, nursing assistants, home healthcare personnel, physicians, technicians, therapists, phlebotomists, pharmacists, students and trainees, contractual staff not employed by the healthcare facility, and persons not directly involved in patient care, but who could be exposed to infectious agents that can be transmitted in the healthcare setting (e.g., clerical, dietary, environmental services, laundry, security, engineering and facilities management, administrative, billing, and volunteer personnel).
Strategies for Protecting K-12 School Staff from COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-staff.html