Vaccination plans vary by state, but current information can likely be found online from your state’s department of health. The Arkansas Department of Health is tracking the distribution of the vaccine and current phase of the distribution. In Phase 1-A, the vaccine was distributed to health care workers, long-term care residents and staff, and first responder groups through on-site clinics and 1-A pharmacies. The COVID-19 Vaccination Plan moved into Phase 1-B on January 18 to provide vaccines for people 70 and older and those who work in education settings. Vaccines will be provided at community pharmacies and medical clinics. Later in this phase, the vaccine will become available for people who work in food and agricultural, manufacturing, grocery stores, public transit, and the postal service as well as essential government workers.
Unlike the vaccine rollout in the RMI, which is a pretty straightforward plan, the responsibility for the distribution in the United States has been put upon local public health systems and complicates age and work priorities. As different states start to move into the next phase of distribution, many Americans who are eager to get a vaccine are finding it difficult to schedule appointments and credible news about vaccine distribution is difficult to find. The RMI Consulate-Arkansas announced that anyone 70 years and older in NW Arkansas can call the Consulate to get vaccinated: (503) 718-8749 or (479) 419-9332.
In response to the significant rise in COVID-19 cases during the summer of 2020, Fayetteville instituted a City Board of Health and appointed a City Public Health Officer to assist the City in its response to the pandemic. The board consists of 11 members including the mayor, a public health officer, city employees, physicians and residents. The appointments to the City Board of Health are unpaid positions. In response to Chikin Melele’s inquiry about vaccine distribution, Public Health Officer Dr. Sharkey relayed that currently the city plans to make vaccines available for factory workers during Phase 1-B through the Community Clinic and Community Pharmacy. However, Arkansas is only getting a third of the requested vaccine from the federal government this week.
In the meantime, be mindful that our healthcare system has been overburdened this past year and vaccines can be slow in coming. Dr. Sheldon Riklon said, “We’ve been in overdrive since the beginning of the pandemic. It takes its toll on the workers and on the system. Being there especially in the covid units, you deal with these patients and families, and people die, and you have to come back again the next day.” We must remain vigilant in our precautions to protect against COVID-19. Though we are armed with more knowledge than before, hospitals are at capacity for the amount of care they can provide patients. You can also keep track of the current prevalence of COVID-19 as well as vaccine distribution in your area using public health data dashboards on your state’s department of health websites. There are also local fact-checked sources for data, like Arkansas Covid which is managed by The University of Arkansas School of Journalism and Strategic Media. You can continue to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by following public health guidelines. As you know, wear a mask, respect social distance, wash your hands, and now you can get vaccinated when it becomes available to you.