Federal Panel Releases Recommendations for Prioritization of COVID-19 Vaccines

December 3, 2020

A COVID-19 vaccine advisory panel announced on Tuesday that healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities should be the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The panel voted 13-1 on its recommendations, which were then given to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Federal officials project 40 million doses will be available in December. The initial vaccines will be given in two separate rounds that are three to four weeks apart, which means 20 million people could be vaccinated over the next month or two. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar has said governors will make the final call about who is vaccinated first. ABI continues to be in contact with and following communications from the governor’s office and the Iowa Department of Public Health concerning this issue. Read more from The Wall Street Journal.