Among the most important policy decisions that need to be made in the coming weeks is how to prioritize the allocation of the early doses of vaccine. With the clinical trials showing promising results and manufacturers of several vaccines already in production (even though they are still only in Phase III Trials), it’s time to decide how to distribute the initial vaccines.
Immunizing the U.S. population to prevent COVID will probably be the largest vaccination campaign ever undertaken. A successful and equitable vaccination plan will require participation by county health departments, community health centers, healthcare providers of all kinds, emergency managers and private & nonprofit sector partners.
How should the early doses of vaccine be allocated? Fortunately, the National Academies of Medicine assembled an all-star group of professionals to come up with a proposed prioritization plan that considers evidence, ethics, and health disparities. It’s called the Committee on Equitable Allocation of Vaccine for the Novel Coronavirus.
They released their final report back in October entitled Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine. In addition to sharing an updated framework for equitable allocation of a COVID-19 vaccine, the final report includes community engagement strategies, risk communication approaches, methods to promote vaccine acceptance, and global considerations.
National Academy Plan for the equitable allocation of vaccine report was commissioned by the NIH and CDC. It’s a long document, but here’s a snapshot of the recommendations Phase 1 populations include:
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1a: Front-line healthcare workers (including care home workers, hospitals, home health)
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1a: Emergency services workers
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1b: Older adults in crowded settings
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1b: Persons of all ages w/co-morbid conditions & significantly increased risk
Chapter 3, Page 20 gives an overview of priority populations in all 4 Phases along with a detailed rational for the various selections.
This is a well thought-through document that is objective and non-partisan. Hopefully the federal, state and county governments will look to this landmark report as they develop the SARS CoV2 vaccination plans.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have presumably closely reviewed the NAESM’s report to inform their recommendations this Tuesday.
UPDATE: Yesterday, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that during the initial phase of the COVID-19 vaccination program, the vaccine should be offered first to healthcare personnel and residents of long-term care facilities.
Current estimates are that 21 million people work in the healthcare industry and three million live in long-term care facilities. Slides from the meeting are available here. The committee will meet again following FDA authorization to consider additional recommendations