Central District Health opens vaccine eligibility to those in Subgroup 2.3, urge 65+ to continue seeking COVID-19 vaccine

On Saturday, March 6, 2021, Subgroup 2.3 will become eligible for vaccine in Central District Health’s (CDH) four-county jurisdiction – Ada, Boise, Elmore and Valley County. The subgroup includes those who work in close and frequent contact with other employees or the public, the full list is included below. Like all vaccine prioritization groups and subgroups, recommendations for subgroup 2.3 were made by the Idaho COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee (CVAC), and ultimately determined by Idaho Governor Brad Little. In CDH’s region of Ada, Boise, Elmore, and Valley counties, it includes an estimated 43,000 people becoming eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

“We are seeing a sizeable increase in the number of vaccines coming to our health district. We’ve also seen a dramatic decrease in demand this past week from those 65 years and older, so we are opening up Subgroup 2.3 to ensure vaccine appointments are filled,” said Russ Duke, District Director for Central District Health. “Vaccine providers are still encouraged to prioritize appointments for anyone 65 years and older”.

What should those in subgroup 2.3 do now?

Individuals within subgroup 2.3 can start making vaccine appointments immediately. Those eligible in subgroup 2.3 can begin filling up appointment slots starting today and into the weekend. Individuals are encouraged to schedule online or call clinics to set up appointments. CDH maintains a list of enrolled vaccine providers who are currently receiving vaccine allocations within our jurisdiction and who may have vaccine availability. View the Enrolled Vaccine Provider list, HERE. (Available in Spanish at https://www.cdh.idaho.gov/covid-vaccine.php.)

CDH has published a Mobile Vaccine Provider list where employers can establish an agreement with an enrolled vaccine provider for an on-site/mobile vaccine clinic for their employees. The list can be found on CDH’s website at https://www.cdh.idaho.gov/covid-vaccine-businesses.php. If an employer establishes an agreement for an on-site vaccine clinic for employees, it would not prohibit employees from seeking their own vaccine appointment.

As vaccine is allocated to additional providers or changes occur, these lists are updated. CDH does not make appointments for community vaccine providers, but our call center can help people without internet access or who need help in navigating a website, connect with a vaccine provider. See More Information section below for links to the enrolled vaccine provider lists and call center details.

A newly-launched vaccine pre-registry tool in Idaho will also help connect more eligible Idahoans to COVID-19 vaccine. The pre-registry tool allows residents to add their name and contact information to a list that is then accessible by enrolled vaccine providers. Providers reach out to those on the list to coordinate vaccine appointments. For more information, visit https://covidvaccine.idaho.gov/.

Among those eligible in subgroup 2.3:

Frontline workers

• Food and agricultural workers

• Food processing workers, including USDA processing plant inspectors

• Grocery, convenience store, and food pantry workers

• Manufacturing workers

• Public transit workers

• U.S. Postal Services workers

• Flight crews

• Subset of essential gas, electric, water, and telecommunications utility

workers, who work indoors

Other people eligible in subgroup 2.3

• Idaho National Guard (if not included in previous subgroups)

• Residents of homeless shelters

• Interpreters (ASL or other language)

• Janitorial and cleaning staff who work within any of these sectors or settings

(including above)

Third approved vaccine moves allocations in the right direction

Just this week, the newly authorized Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine was allocated to Idaho’s health districts. Thirty-seven hundred doses were allocated to CDH’s counties. The vaccine was delivered on Thursday, March 4, 2021. “We are really looking forward to what the new vaccine will mean for our communities,” said Russ Duke. “It will provide very strong protection and will allow excellent flexibility for both our providers and our community members because it’s just one dose – there’s no going back for a second appointment. Our vaccine providers will be able to more easily bring this vaccine out into the community because it’s so easily stored.” While Idaho’s local public health districts received Janssen allocations this week, additional allocations are not anticipated until later this month.