With national experts finalizing their recommendations of who gets the first COVID-19 vaccines, physicians and community leaders on the Massachusetts COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group see frontline health care workers, first responders and older adults in congregate housing and with underlying health conditions as some of the first recipients.
Frontline health care workers who come into contact with COVID-19 patients and residents of long-term care facilities get the top priority, said Dr. Asif Merchant, a chief of geriatrics at Newton-Wellesley Hospital and a member of the group. He notes health care workers do not only include hospital staff, but also employees in nursing homes and those working in private homes as health aides.
The advisory group is also looking at emergency room staff, Emergency Medical Services personnel, residents age 65 or older and those with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk of falling severely ill due to COVID-19, based on recent recommendations that have come out from the National Academy of Medicine and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which makes recommendations on vaccine distribution to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We’re trying to reconcile with some of that, too, matching that up with the priorities that we created,” said Merchant, who serves as the medical director of four nursing homes in the MetroWest area.
Pfizer and BioNTech asked the federal government for emergency use authorization from the Food and Druvg Administration after the company said the candidate was 95% effective during Phase 3 clinical trials.
Moncef Slaoui, the head of the White House’s “Warp Speed” vaccination development operation told ABC News’ “This Week” that Moderna will also seek emergency use authorization from the FDA. Moderna announced earlier this month its trials had seen a 94.5% success rate.
Officials say the vaccine could become available as soon as December, but that those at the top of the list would get first priority.
ACIP members outlined in a meeting this week who should get priority for Phase 1 of the vaccine distribution.
The ACIP recommended health care workers on the front lines and residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities get the vaccine first, followed by essential workers, followed by adults aged 65 or older and those with underlying medical conditions that make them high-risk for falling ill due to COVID-19.
Including essential workers in the first phase not only preserves key services, but also could address health inequities that could leave out low-income and nonwhite people, according to a presentation delivered by Dr. Kathleen Dooling. Dooling, a CDC medical officer, noted that racial and ethnic minority groups are overrepresented in essential industries and that roughly one-quarter of essential workers live in low-income families.
The National Academy of Medicine made similar recommendations for who should get the first phase of vaccines in the framework released in October. The academy’s “Jumpstart Phase” included high-risk health workers, first responders, people of all ages with underlying health conditions that increase their risk of getting sick and older adults living in congregate housing or overcrowded living conditions.
A vaccine could become more publicly available in March or April, Springfield health commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris told community leaders Nov. 23 at a Black Springfield COVID-19 Coalition meeting. She said the local board of health would help distribute the virus locally.
“We will set up emergency dispensing sites so that we can vaccinate the general public, but I do not anticipate that happening until February, March and perhaps as late as April,” said Caulton-Harris, adding that she had already gotten an idea of what groups get first priority in the state..
It’s unclear whether every local board of health in Massachusetts plans to roll out public vaccination like Springfield does. When asked about Springfield’s plans, Merchant said it’s too early for the advisory group to coordinate public distribution.
The next challenge, beyond distribution, is convincing people to take the vaccine, even within the health care industry.
“Everybody wants a good, effective solution that is also safe,” he said. “I’ve had several CNAs, some nurses express concern saying I’m worried about this vaccine.
When Merchant hears hesitance among colleagues, he tells them of his plans to take the vaccine as soon as it’s available to him.
“Immediately after that they say Dr. Merchant is if you take it, I’m going to take it,” Merchant said. “There’s relief when they know someone closely who’s a medical professional will be taking it first.”
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