NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health has updated Tennessee’s COVID-19 vaccination plan as the state continues to prioritize Tennessee with the highest risk of disease and death from COVID-19.
Protection of medically fragile children and adults
Tennessee has added people living in homes with medically fragile children to phase 1c of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan. Vaccination of their parents, caregivers, and other home residents will help protect these children, as no COVID-19 vaccine for children under 16 has been approved at this time. Phase 1c also includes people 16 years of age or older who have medical conditions that put them at high risk for serious illness and death from COVID-19. This group is defined more in the updated plan and occurs earlier in the Tennessee plan than in the federal vaccination recommendations.
Correctional officers and prisoners in phase 1a1
Tennessee prison officers and inmates have been added to phase 1a1 of Tennessee’s COVID-19 vaccination plan. These Tennesseans work in environments and roles that require direct and frequent public exposure through close contact in confined spaces, putting them at high risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19.
Risk prioritization based on age
Age-based criteria are run simultaneously in phases in age brackets beginning with those aged 75 years or older.