The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released it latest plan for the next phase of COVID-19 vaccine across the country.
Under the current phase (1a), vaccines are currently being distributed to long-term care facility residents as well as some health care personnel. Phase 1b is expected to be distributed in the next two weeks.
Those receiving vaccines as part of phase 1b include persons over 75 years of age and front line essential workers. Front line essential workers are those who are in sectors essential to the functioning of society and are at substantially higher risk of exposure to COVID-19.
Those front line essential workers include first responders, education professionals, corrections facility employees, mail carriers, public transit workers, grocery store workers, those working in food and agriculture as well as manufacturers. The CDC estimates that there are roughly 30 million people who qualify as essential front line workers.
In about five weeks from now, the final phase (1c) is expected to begin being dispersed. Those expected to receive the vaccine around that time are people with high-risk medical conditions, adults aged 65-74, persons aged 16-64 with pre-existing conditions and other essential workers.
The CDC estimates there are roughly 57 million people who qualify as essential workers. Those include food service, transportation, construction, finance, media, legal and several others. In total, phases 1a, 1b, and 1c account for roughly 202 million people in the country.
To view the CDC's complete vaccine distribution plan, click here.