What are the populations included in phase 1-B of COVID-19 vaccination?

Phase 1-B vaccination against COVID-19, which began this Monday across the island, is made up of several population groups totaling approximately 600,000 people, according to estimates by the Department of Health and the National Guard of Puerto Rico.

This phase includes people aged 65 and over who do not live in a congregated environment (long-term care centers or asylums). For the vaccination of this population, Health published a list of 56 providers that offer health services, such as primary service centers, clinics and hospitals, which already have available a telephone line to which citizens can communicate to a vaccination appointment, and that they have already received the vaccine or are about to receive it.

“Older adults will begin vaccinating at authorized Health Care Providers by appointment,” the agency reported. “We urge you to contact us in advance to find out the day they can be vaccinated.”

Dr. Iris Cardona, director of the COVID-19 Health Vaccination Program, stressed that vaccination of older adults will begin with “those over 75 years of age.” Cardona also indicated that “not all facilities have the vaccines in their possession today, the distribution is done according to the vaccines we receive and during today it will be distributed.”

This phase also includes front-line workers, understand, police, medical emergency personnel, emergency management, firefighters, correctional guards, among others. Health reported yesterday that, in principle, it was agreed with the Department of Public Safety (DSP) that at least 300 workers of this umbrella will be treated daily in each of the six regional vaccination centers operated by troops of the National Guard.

The centers are located in:

– Coliseito Pedrín Zorrilla in Sant Joan

– Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum in Bayamón

– Fine Arts Center in Caguas

– Palace of the Sports in Mayaguez

– Salvador Dijols Coliseum in Ponce

– Coliseum Manuel “Petaca” Iguina d’Arecibo.

Under the DSP’s umbrella are the Puerto Rican Police, the Negotiated for Emergency Management and Disaster Management, the Medical Emergency Corps, Fire Department, the Negotiated 911 and the Investigated Negotiated Specials (NIE).

Start teacher vaccination

In the 1-B phase, the staff of the education system, public and private, will also be vaccinated. The National Guard is estimated at approximately 60,000, the population corresponding to the Department of Education, private and personal system of the Head Start program. Vaccination of this group will begin next Monday, January 18, in seven centers.

The assistant general of the National Guard, José Reyes, has reported that four of them will be located in Primary Health Centers known as “Centers 330”, specifically in San Juan, Loíza, Barranquitas and Arroyo. These centers will be supported by Education nursing staff and National Guard personnel. Teaching and non-teaching staff will also be vaccinated at the National Guard regional centers in Ponce, Mayagüez and Arecibo.

“What we will do is split the operation, one side will remain for the first responders and health professionals, and on the other side, we will work with what is the Department of Education,” Reis said.

Phase 1-B also includes manufacturing employees (medicines, medical equipment and other types of manufacturing) and postal service employees. Similarly, public transporters and food chain workers (processing, supermarkets and ports) will be vaccinated. The food chain group includes staff from the agricultural, poultry and livestock industries, Reyes explained.

“There are different initiatives on how we’re going to impact them all, it all depends on the flow of vaccines, but we feel comfortable that we’re maximizing the vaccines that come to Puerto Rico weekly. expand the number of people we vaccinate weekly, “Reis said.

The assistant general explained that the phase also includes the municipal police of the 78 municipalities, as well as the staff of law and order of federal government on the island. For the latter group, two centers will be established from next Monday, one at the Federal Court in Hato Rei, and the other at the headquarters of the organization High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) in Guaynabo, which groups the workers from different federal agencies. The National Guard estimates this population at 3,000, a group that would be vaccinated over a period of seven to ten days.