About 32,000 of the 100,000 people on a state waiting list for coronavirus vaccine have been vaccinated, the state Division of Public Health reported this week.
The list includes people over the age of 65. Unlike some states, including neighboring Maryland, Delaware did not limit Phase 1B to those over 75. In total, Phase 1B includes about 200,000 people.
Phase 1A was limited to frontline health care workers, long-term care patients, and some first responders.
Vaccinations have taken place at state-operated vaccination clinics and sites operated by state partners Vault and Curative. Other options are pharmacies and medical providers.
This week, most vaccination clinics for those 65-plus and on the waiting list will be run by Vault and Curative. About 3,000 appointment slots have been filled.
Invitations are going to those over 65 who are believed to be most at risk due to medical conditions.
According to the Division of Public Health, the weekly number of appointments and vaccination locations should grow over the rest of February.
“Supply remains a problem,” state Division of Public Health Director Dr. Karyl Rattay said at the weekly Covid-19 briefing.
Rattay and Gov. John Carney said the focus will remain on second doses. Given the limited supply situation, the rate of first doses is slowing. Making major headway will require a doubling of weekly shipments.
Vaccine appointment options have been offered through Walgreens, some healthcare providers, and at a few community pharmacies. So far, the Rite Aid and CVS chains websites in Delaware do not list possible appointments for vaccines on their websites. Additional doses are going from the federal government to Walgreens in Delaware.
A CVS spokesperson said the state chose other pharmacies for allocations but will expand to other chains when supply is available.
Those who have not received state invitations are asked to check their email regularly.
There has been some confusion because invitations come from the Centers for Disease Control. Delaware is part of a program that administers the invitations. Also, Emails can end up in bulk or “spam” files that are not always regularly checked.
Those who have been vaccinated are urged to wear a mask and take other steps to avoid gatherings and social distancing.
People unable to schedule a second dose can check alternate sources since the vaccine does not have to be administered by the same provider. However, you have to stick with the same type of vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer)
Delaware has been focusing on getting vaccines to areas where the elderly do not have access to vehicles or may not use a signup process that is heavily dependent on online access.
Gov. John Carney, last week, ordered entities handling vaccinations to list ethnicity in their paperwork.
KFF. recently reported that Delaware ranked low in the percentage of Black residents’ vaccinations while finishing high in total vaccinations.
Delaware is also seeing a far larger percentage of females getting vaccines. One factor is a large percentage of female health care workers. Females also tend to have longer lifespans than males, with that difference showing up in the elderly.
