Distribution
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended that residents and employees of nursing homes and similar facilities and health care workers be the first people in the United States to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. States have the option to tailor vaccine priorities for their State.
ACIP is expected to recommend a phased allocation of COVID-19 vaccines:
- Essential workers (examples: education sector, food, and agriculture, utilities, police, firefighters, corrections officers, transportation) being the next group prioritized to receive the vaccine when it becomes available.
- Adults with medical conditions that put them at high risk of coronavirus infection, such as diabetes or obesity, and everyone over 65 may be the next prioritized group.
- All other adults to follow the initial groups.
The supply of vaccines will continually increase in the weeks and months that follow until
everyone is able to receive a vaccine. Vaccines may not be recommended for children. Cost will
not be an obstacle to getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
Following vaccination, measures to stop the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, such as masks and
social distancing, will still be needed.
