Dartmouth COVID-19 Response Team Shares Information Regarding State’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan

Dartmouth First Responders Received First Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine Last Week

DARTMOUTH — Director of Public Health Christopher Michaud and the Dartmouth COVID-19 Response Team wish to share with the community information regarding the state’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plans.

Members of the public are reminded that the Commonwealth is currently in Phase one of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution timeline. The vaccine is not yet available to members of the general public.

Vaccine distribution across Massachusetts is occurring in a phased approach that reflects several priorities including protecting the most vulnerable, maintaining health care system capacity, and addressing inequities in health care access and COVID-19 burden.

Phase one of the state’s vaccination distribution plan began in December 2020 and is estimated to continue into February.First responders are the third priority group within Phase one.

Through a collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and the Towns of Westport and Gosnold, first responders received the first dose of the vaccine last week. 

“We encourage residents to review the distribution timeline provided by the state as this is the distribution plan the Dartmouth Board of Health is required to follow when coordinating vaccinations within our community,” Director Michaud said. “Residents will be informed when the vaccine becomes available to the general public in our region. As residents await the availability of a vaccine, it is critically important to still follow public health guidance, including wearing a mask while in public, avoiding gathering with those outside of your household and staying home if you don’t feel well.”

The Dartmouth COVID-19 Response Team wishes to share the following information about the state’s distribution plan for the vaccine over the coming months:

• Phase one vaccinations (estimated to continue into February) are being provided to those in the following groups, in order of priority:
  • Clinical and non-clinical health care workers giving direct and COVID-19 facing care.
  • Long-term care facilities, rest homes, assisted living facilities.
  • First responders including police, fire and emergency medical services. This includes interfacility transport workers, MedFlight staff, college and university campus police, and 911 dispatch employees.
  • Congregate care settings, including corrections and shelters.
  • Home-based health care workers.
  • Health care workers providing non-COVID-19 facing care. This does not include those who do not come in contact with patients, however. For more information on the types of health care workers included in phase one, click here. 
• Phase two of the state’s vaccination distribution plan is anticipated to begin in February and continue into March. Phase two vaccinations will be provided to those in the following groups, in order of priority:
  • Adults age 75 and older and individuals with two or more co-morbid conditions, who are at a high risk for COVID-19 complications. To review conditions that may put an individual at an increased risk for COVID-19 complications, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website here.
  • Professionals in the fields of early education, K-12, transit, grocery, utility, food and agriculture, sanitation, public works and public health.
  • Adults age 65-years-old and older.
  • Individuals with one co-morbid condition.
• Phase three of the state’s vaccination distribution plan is anticipated to begin in April. At that time the vaccine will become available to the general public. 
  • When phase three begins, residents will be able to contact their primary care providers, local pharmacies and/or local health departments.

For more information about the state of Massachusetts’ timeline for vaccine distribution, click here. For more information about COVID-19 vaccines in general, visit the CDC’s website here and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health website here.

Additional information regarding the Town of Dartmouth’s response to COVID-19 can be found here.

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