Vt. officials unveil age-based COVID vaccination strategy - WCAX

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - Vermont officials Tuesday unveiled the next phase of their coronavirus vaccine campaign, focusing on age and underlying health conditions.

Officials say the simplified strategy directly addresses an individual’s risk of death from the coronavirus and aims to save as many lives as possible. Since the start of the pandemic, 130 people have died. Only seven of them were under 60-years-old, and only 12 more were in their 60s. For anyone older, the risk of death increases substantially -- 42 people in their 70s, and 69 people 80-years-old and above. That’s 85% of all deaths over the age of 70.

Older more vulnerable Vermonters remain the state’s main concern, as over 500 residents of long-term care facilities have the virus and older Vermonters make up most of the deaths. “We’re trying to put the fire out everywhere,” said AHS Secretary Mike Smith.

Providers and pharmacies are accelerating vaccinations in assisted living facilities so everyone has their first shot by the end of January. Then, the mass vaccination program kicks into gear. “We think this is the fairest, we think this is the most understandable way. This is the easiest to administer and this runs right up to our primary objective -- which is saving lives,” Smith said.

Vermonters will get their vaccine from either their health care provider, pharmacies, 12 health department district sites, or mass vaccine sites similar to those used for testing. Who gets it next will be based on age brackets and underlying conditions. “Because the older you are, the more vulnerable you are to getting COVID-19,” Smith said.

After the first round of vaccinations, the state will roll out vaccinations based on age -- people over 75, then over 70, and then over 65. People with underlying health conditions will move to the front of the line. “They’ll be put into that category when you open up 75 and older. Those with chronic conditions will be in that banding,” Gov. Scott said.

Contrary to CDC recommendations, frontline workers in stores and teachers who are younger will have to wait. Vermonters we spoke with say the state needs to balance two groups - older Vermonters and frontline essential workers.

“It’s a difficult equation to figure out,” said Victor Guadagno of Montpelier. “Sometimes the elderly, although they’re vulnerable, they may not have the need to get out into the community, so it seems like those that have to be out in public should jump up in the priority list.”

“The elderly are the most at risk and they should be the ones getting it first,” said Jackie Bassett of Shelburne.

Officials insist the primary strategy must be about saving lives and that starts by vaccinating older Vermonters. They are still working on a notification system so people will know when it is their turn. They say it will most likely involve a combination of the media, social media, and the state’s website.

VERMONTERS WILL NOT SEE GAP IN UNEMPLOYMENT PAYMENTS

Many Vermont independent contractors filing for unemployment are hitting a brick wall and the Labor Department says it’s likely because they have exhausted their benefits.

Officials say those Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claimants will be able to file for benefits the week ending January 2nd.

The newest COVID relief package extends PUA benefits until mid-March, but the new bill does not cover the benefit week that ended on December 26th for people who used up their original benefits. And even though the PUA and extended benefits programs technically did expire, Gov. Phil Scott Tuesday said Vermonters will not see a gap in payments.

“There is not going to be a gap. We will be able to provide for those coming off of unemployment, so there will be no gap at all,” he said.

The Labor Department says it’s also communicating directly with everyone on PUA to determine their next steps.

VERMONT COVID CASE GROWTH CONTINUES TO DROP

Vermont officials say COVID case growth and positivity rates continue to drop in Vermont and around the region but that it’s too early to tell what holiday travel and gatherings will do to those numbers.

According to the latest modeling, there’s a downward trend in several of the state’s key indicators, including the number of Vermonters diagnosed with COVID-19 by week and daily coronavirus cases, which are down 28 percent from where they were on December 9th. That means the estimated number of active cases is going down too, which officials say means our communities are getting safer.

Given that data, the forecast calls for cases to flatten over the next four weeks. Pieciak says Vermonters’ good behavior over the holidays could even make this projection even better. Still, Vermont isn’t declaring victory. Because while travel was down significantly compared to last year, there’s still the wild card of potential cases stemming from Christmas and New Year’s gatherings, something state leaders say they’ll be watching closely in the coming weeks.

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