VDH COVID-19 Update: Vaccination sign ups for 16+ with health conditions begin Thursday

COVID-19 Daily Update

March 9, 2021

New or updated information is in red and bold

This update is available online at healthvermont.gov/covid19

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Vermonters age 16+ with high-risk health conditions can make vaccine appointments starting on Thursday, March 11

State officials announced at Tuesday’s press conference that people age 16 and older with certain high-risk health conditions will be able to make vaccination appointments starting Thursday, March 11.

This group was initially slated to become eligible on March 15, but the timeline was moved up due to the state’s supply of vaccine and ability to accommodate large numbers of appointments, said Human Services Secretary Mike Smith.

This group can make an appointment starting Thursday at 8:15 a.m. by visiting healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine. If registering online is not an option, you can make an appointment by calling (855) 722-7878.

Please note: You do NOT need a doctor’s note or proof of a health condition to sign up. You will be asked for information about a health care provider you see for your condition, but you can still make an appointment if you do not have a health care provider.

High-risk health conditions include:

• Current cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• COPD, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis
• Heart disease
• Immunocompromised / Weakened immune system
• Severe obesity (BMI of 40 or more)
• Pregnancy
• Diabetes (Types 1 & 2)
• Disabilities, including chromosomal disorders, intellectual disabilities, and disabilities that affect lung function
• Sickle cell disease

Health Department Clinics Planned for BIPOC Vermonters

Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, on Tuesday outlined plans to vaccinate Vermonters who are Black, Indigenous and people of color.

“Our data shows that BIPOC Vermonters are more likely to get COVID-19 compared to white non-Hispanic Vermonters,” he said. “They have significantly higher hospitalization rates and rates of most chronic diseases, often related to issues of higher exposures to COVID due to types of employment and transportation issues.”

We are also seeing significant disparities in the rate of vaccination among BIPOC Vermonters compared to white non-Hispanic Vermonters, he said.

“We can and must do better, not only in engagement, the building of trust, and reducing vaccine hesitancy, but in realizing better health outcomes,” Dr. Levine said.

Over the past month, the Health Department has been holding vaccine clinics for eligible Vermonters and members of their household who are among the groups at higher risk for COVID-19 due to language barriers, such as English Language Learners.

Beginning next week and over the ensuing weeks, we plan to continue and extend that strategy to other BIPOC communities where an eligible Vermonter (who meets the age category, for example) may also bring other household members to be vaccinated, Dr. Levine said. This will be statewide and not only Chittenden county, from our southern border to mid-state farm workers to indigenous Vermonters in the northern part of the state.

Clinics will be arranged in coordination and with the support of community partners around the state. As we establish clinic locations, we will post information on our website.

CDC’s New Guidance for Vaccinated People Reflects Vermont Protocols

Dr. Levine also welcomed new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control for people who have been fully vaccinated.

“I was happy to see it really shows Vermont is once again ahead of the curve when it comes to deliberate easing of guidelines, while still maintaining important protections like mask protocols,” Dr. Levine said.

The guidance includes:

• You can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart.
• You can gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household (for example, visiting with relatives who all live together) without masks, unless any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
• If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested or quarantine unless you have symptoms (with some exceptions).

Vaccinated people should still take steps to protect yourself and others in many situations, like wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds whenever you are:

• In public
• Gathering with unvaccinated people from more than one other household
• Visiting with an unvaccinated person who is at increased risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 or who lives with a person at increased risk

New on Healthvermont.gov

It has been almost exactly one year since the first case of COVID-19 was identified in Vermont. Since that time, numerous Health Department staff have been pulled from their regular duties to help respond to the pandemic, including the members of the Data Team who contribute to the Weekly Data Summary. This week’s spotlight showcases some public health issues and data that we would normally be highlighting, including:
Climate & Health

Non-COVID Infectious Diseases

Suicide Prevention & Mental Health

The Opioid Epidemic & Substance Misuse

Vermonters with Disabilities

Diabetes & Heart Disease Prevention

COVID-19 Activity in Vermont

As of 12 p.m. on March 9, 2021

Data is updated daily.

Find more data on COVID-19 Activity at: healthvermont.gov/currentactivity.

COVID-19 Vaccine Data

As of 12 p.m. on March 9, 2021

Data is updated Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Find more vaccine data on the COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard: healthvermont.gov/covid19-vaccine-data.

Additional Resources About Vaccination and More

Find answers to your questions about the COVID-19 vaccine from the CDC: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html.

Get Vermont-specific information in our Frequently Asked Questions.

Sign up for the COVID-19 Weekly Email Update.

Find information sheets, posters and toolkits, as well as translated materials on our Resources web page.