COVID-19 Vaccinations Underway With First Focus On Health Care Workers & Long-Term Care Residents, Estimated At 17.6 Million People

The initial phase of vaccinations against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) began on December 14, 2020, focused on health care workers and long-term care facility (LTCF) residents. The combined first phase (called 1a) population is estimated at 17.6 million people, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The first phase focus on these two populations was recommended on December 3, 2020, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC). The recommendation is guiding the federal COVID-19 vaccine distribution; however, states have the authority to make their own allocation decisions.

As of December 31 . . .