COVID-19 Vaccine Information
posted
on Thursday, January 14, 2021
Boy are we glad to see 2021! We're ready to start shining a light on more COVID-19 vaccine information. While we start to split our focus, let's continue to remember the virus surges on. Please continue to take all precautions to limit virus spread.
Vaccine News
Early research indicates people with disabilities are twice as likely to die from COVID-19 than the general population. We are overjoyed that a vaccine is becoming available.
Vaccine Distribution Plan - Since the vaccine is expected to be limited at first, the CDC provided a tiered distribution plan. According to federal, state and public health guidelines, health care workers with the highest risk of exposure were identified as the first tier to receive the vaccine.
Distribution depends on the number of available vaccine doses and progress will vary by county due to a variety of factors.
Where is EPI in the Plan? We have been advocating quite persistently for our workforce and persons served to be included in early distribution plans. While we do not yet have official word, we do see positive movement and will share what we believe to be true today (please know any or all of this information could change).
- Our workforce and persons served should be recognized as Phase 1B - next in line!
- We've established a partnership to administer the COVID-19 vaccination for persons served and our workforce.
- We're hoping to host COVID-19 vaccine clinics onsite at EPI's Deery Center (for both the first and second dose and for both workforce and persons served).
Your Action Needed - When vaccines become available, we must be ready. We expect to have little notice when vaccines become available to our agency.
- To be proactive, we will be reaching out to guardians in the near future to discuss our plan in more detail. Please be on the lookout for an a email from our service staff directly (a mailing will also be sent out).
- The communication will contain important information on how to be fully prepared when the vaccine is made available and will require your immediate response.
Learn More About the Vaccine - Please take some time to learn about the COVID-19 vaccine from fact-based sources such as FDA and CDC.
Thank you for your continued efforts to slow the spread of this virus. We wish you good health in this new year!