Health care personnel, Emergency Medical Services agencies, and long-term care staff and residents will receive the vaccine first.

Health care settings in general, and long-term care facility (LTCF) settings in particular, can be high-risk locations for SARS-CoV-2 exposure and transmission. Health care personnel are defined as paid and unpaid persons serving in health care settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials. Early protection of health care personnel is critical to preserve capacity to care for patients with COVID-19 or other illnesses. LTCF residents are defined as adults who reside in facilities that provide a range of services, including medical and personal care, to persons who are unable to live independently. LTCF residents, because of their age, high rates of underlying medical conditions, and congregate living situation, are at high risk for infection and severe illness from COVID-19.

Those who are ages 65 and older, as well as those considered frontline essential workers including: police, fire, teachers, child care providers, food processing workers, correctional officers, and postal service, public transit and grocery workers will begin to be vaccinated.

Starting by end of February people in the following categories are expected to be eligible to receive a vaccine:

• Persons aged 16-64 with high-risk medical conditions (Obesity, Severe Obesity, Diabetes, COPD, Heart Condition, Chronic Kidney, Cancer, Smoking, Solid Organ Transplant, Sickle Cell Disease, Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, Severe and persistent mental/behavioral health conditions)
• Persons living in high-risk group settings such as correctional facilities, homeless shelters, and group homes
• Other essential workers (Transportation and Logistics, Food Service, Shelter and Housing (construction), Finance, IT and Communications, Energy, Media, Legal, Public Safety (Engineers), Water and Wastewater)

Not all essential workers in each category will be eligible at first. Those with more frequent public contact, and higher health risks will likely be eligible first.

Beginning in mid-late April, persons aged 50 – 64, persons 16 – 49 with moderate-risk medical conditions, other in group settings who did not receive vaccine in the earlier phases, and essential workers not able to work from home at all times, are likely to receive the vaccine.

Moderate-risk medical conditions: Asthma (moderate-to-severe), Cerebrovascular disease, Cystic fibrosis, Hypertension, Immunocompromised state, Neurologic conditions, Liver disease, Overweight, Pulmonary fibrosis, Thalassemia

Persons aged 16-49 and essential workers not receiving the vaccine in Phase 2 are likely to receive the vaccine in mid-late May.

By late May/early June, those who have not already received the vaccine will be able to access it through primary care providers, pharmacies, and health centers (for patients).