Louisville Medicine Volume 68, Issue 11 | Page 35

DOCTORS ' LOUNGE
TABLE 1 KENTUCKY ’ S COVID-19 VACCINATION PLAN
Phase 1 A
Long term care facilities , assisted living facilities ( staff and residents ) and health care personnel .
TABLE 2
HIGH RISK MEDICAL CONDITIONS PROPOSED BY THE CDC
( its website notes that these are “ subject to change ”)
1 : Pregnancy
Phase 1 B
Phase 1 C
First responders , anyone age 70 or older , K-12 school personnel , and KY childcare providers ( added Feb . 15th ).
Anyone age 60 or older , anyone age 16 or older who has the CDC highest risk COVID-19 conditions , and all essential workers .
2 : Cancer 3 : Chronic Kidney Disease 4 : COPD ( Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ) 5 : Down Syndrome
6 : Heart Conditions : Heart Failure ; Coronary Artery Disease , Cardiomyopathies
7 : Immunocompromised state from Solid Organ Transplant
Phase 2 Anyone over the age of 40 .
8 : Obesity : Body mass index ( BMI ) of 30 or greater 9 : Severe obesity : BMI of 40 or greater
Phase 3
Anyone age 16 or older ( the vaccine is approved by the FDA for persons 18 years or older ).
10 : Sickle Cell Disease 11 : Smoking ( current or history )
12 : Diabetes mellitus Type 2 ( Type 1 is listed by the CDC as “ may ” increase risk )
It is critical for governments who are trying to orchestrate the administration of the COVID-19 vaccines to work with as many partners in the private community as possible to make it easy and convenient for people to obtain the vaccine . Since some populations are hesitant to come to central locations , then private groups , hospitals , church groups and pharmacies need to extend their services to expand and diversify our locations . An effective public education campaign should decrease the fears and uncertainty about the vaccine safety and benefits and it should be started now . There are significant gaps in vaccination rates across race , income and location . People should not be forced to take the vaccine but should be offered the opportunity to protect themselves and their families .
References
1
Slaoui M , Hepburn M ,: Developing Safe and effective COVID-Operation Warp Speed Strategy and Approach . N Eng J Med 2020 ; 382:1701-1703 .
2
CDC : COVID-19 ( Coronavirus disease ): People with certain medical conditions . Available at : https ://. Cdc . gov / coronsvirus2019-ncov / need extra-precautions / people-with-medical conditions . html .
3
Khubchandani J et al : COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake . 2021 : dol : 10.1007 / 5109000- 020-00958-x .
Dr . Gall is a retired obstetrician / gynecologist .
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