Tenn. releases coronavirus vaccination distribution plan
Christ Community Health Services staff members collect nasal swabs during at a drive-thru coronavirus testing site on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2020 on Lamar Ave. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
A preliminary plan for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines was announced by the Tennessee Department of Health Wednesday, Oct. 21; it prioritizes areas hard-hit by the virus and vulnerable populations.
The state Health Department coordinated with other state and local agencies to submit a draft of the COVID-19 Vaccination Plan for Tennessee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Oct. 16.
“We assure Tennesseans that safe, effective and approved COVID-19 vaccines will be released in Tennessee when they are available to reduce the spread of the virus,” state Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said in a release. “Our vaccine distribution plan will be modified as more is understood about the virus and the availability of approved vaccines currently in development.”
According to the preliminary plan, 5% of Tennessee’s allocation of COVID-19 vaccines will be distributed equitably among all 95 counties, 10% of vaccines will be reserved for use in targeted areas with high vulnerability to illness and death and 85% will be distributed among all 95 counties based on their populations.
The plan was devised after reviewing vaccine protocols created by the CDC and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, and after consulting with Tennessee’s Unified Command Group and a group of more than 28 partner agencies and offices.
TDH is working to recruit hospitals, pharmacies, clinics and other partners to store vaccines and administer them to priority populations.
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