Effective immediately, Shelby County can begin vaccinating residents age 55 and older. The Shelby County Health Department announced late Thursday, March 18, that the area could begin vaccinating all individuals in Phase 2a/2b. 

The move also opens COVID-19 vaccinations up to critical infrastructure workers, as well as those in the transportation, telecommunications and energy sectors. 

As other states open vaccinations to all adults, Tenn. defends its slow approach

New appointments will be posted Friday online at https://covid19.memphistn.gov/. People can also schedule an appointment by calling 901-222-7468 (SHOT).

Shelby County returns to SignUpGenius

In addition to residents age 55 and older, phase 2a includes Tennesseans employed in social services (including child welfare agency personnel with direct public exposure), commercial agriculture, commercial food production, corrections staff not included with Phase 1a1 (administrative staff and those without regular public or inmate contact) and public transit.

Phase 2b includes Tennesseans employed in transportation (postal/package delivery, freight railroad, maritime cargo, commercial or cargo service airports), public infrastructure (dams, roads, locks, and bridge maintenance and engineering, solid waste collection and processing), telecommunications (including those providing direct services) and utilities/energy (including line workers, maintenance and engineering personnel involved in directly providing services).

After Phase 2a/b will come Phase 3, or “Tennesseans in other high-risk settings.” That phase includes those living and working in shelters, college dormitories and other settings where people are capable of independent living; grocery workers and those housed in detention centers, prisons and jails.