NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health has updated Tennessee’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan as the state continues to prioritize residents of Tennesseans at increased risk of COVID-19 disease and death.
Protecting clinically fragile children and adults
Tennessee added people living in families with clinically fragile children to Phase 1c of the state’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan. Vaccination of their parents, caregivers and other residents of the home will help protect these children, as at the moment no COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for use in children under the age of 16. Phase 1c also includes people aged 16 and over who have medical conditions puts them at high risk for serious illness and death from COVID-19. This group is defined later in the updated plan and occurs earlier in the Tennessee plan than in federal vaccination recommendations.
Correctional officers and jailers in phase 1a1
Tennessee correctional officers and jailers were added to Phase 1a1 of Tennessee’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan. These Tennesseans work in environments and functions that require frequent direct public exposure through close contact in confined spaces, placing them at high risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19.
Prioritizing risk based on age
Age-based criteria are performed simultaneously with phases in the age groups starting with those aged 75 and above.