CASPER, Wyoming – The Wyoming Department of Health is expanding its eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine throughout Wyoming to include people aged 65 and over, as well as people with certain high-risk medical conditions.
According to a statement released on Monday afternoon, doses of the vaccine remain in limited supply, but pre-registration for the next round of people who qualify is opening.
Information on how to register by county is available here on the WDH website.
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The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) has updated the state’s priority vaccine groups to be more in line with the recently described national guidance, while launching new pre-registration and information options.
The WDH is offering an online pre-registration form to facilitate pre-registration of vaccination for priority populations, as well as a free hotline that will provide easy access to vaccination information. Pre-registration is now open for people over 65.
More information about the COVID-19 vaccine efforts in Wyoming, including detailed descriptions of updated Phase 1 priority groups, can be found at https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/immunization/wyoming-covid-19-vaccine -information /.
Registration processes vary from county to county in Wyoming. County-specific information is available online at https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/immunization/wyoming-covid-19-vaccine-information/county-covid-19-vaccine-information/.
Those unable to visit the website for details on priority groups or for specific county information can call the WDH toll free vaccine line at 800-438-5795. With great interest in the vaccine, the volume of calls can be high enough to cause delays.
While the phased effort to offer free, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccinations is expanding, the federal government’s overall vaccine supply remains low. The limited number of doses available requires the continued use of a phased approach to ensure that vaccines reach individuals most at risk and most affected by the virus.
Phase 1b has been expanded to include individuals 65 years of age or older and people with certain high-risk medical conditions. Essential frontline workers listed in Phase 1b will be contacted through their employers through local county health offices. Pre-registration for additional Phase 1 groups will open in the coming months.
The Phase 1 general plan describes three general groupings for early vaccine eligibility:
- Phase 1a includes health professionals, first responders, teams from long-term care institutions and others at high risk of exposure to COVID-19.
- Phase 1b now focuses on some essential frontline workers, individuals aged 65 and over and individuals with certain medical conditions.
- Phase 1c includes homeless individuals, people living in congregated environments and other essential workers, as defined by the Federal Agency for Cybersecurity and Infrastructure. More details on essential workers can be found online at https://www.cisa.gov/publication/guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workforce.
Although Phase 1c priority group descriptions are now available, counties are unlikely to vaccinate Phase 1c groups by the end of the year due to limited vaccine supply.
“Counties are vaccinating people in both Phase 1a and some Phase 1b groups now, and working with priority groups based on what is most appropriate for their counties,” said Stephanie Pyle, senior administrator for the Public Health Division at WDH. “We are working with counties to help ensure that the vaccine is administered as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
“Unfortunately, we don’t have enough doses to vaccinate everyone in these groups right away,” said Pyle. “We ask our residents for patience while we all wait for our turn to get the vaccine.”
Wyoming’s prioritization schedule is based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the WDH Medical Ethics Committee.