Vermont COVID-19 Vaccine Planning

Safe and effective vaccines are critical to ending the COVID-19 pandemic.

getting the vaccine

Putting Safety First

The global push to develop vaccines for COVID-19 is unprecedented, but this urgency cannot outweigh the importance of vaccine safety and efficacy. That is why we keep a close watch on the vaccine development process and put science above all else when it comes to distributing any vaccine in Vermont. Before it is given to anyone in Vermont, a vaccine must meet strict U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety standards and be recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).* All newly developed vaccines will also be monitored continuously for safety.

Three COVID-19 vaccines have received Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine received an EUA on December 11, 2020. The Moderna vaccine received an EUA on December 18, 2020. The Johnson & Johnson (Janssen Biotech, Inc.) vaccine received an EUA on February 27, 2021.

Learn more about Emergency Use Authorization and watch a video on what an EUA is.

deciding who gets vaccine and when

The initial supply of COVID-19 vaccine will be limited. Vaccine efforts will prioritize groups that:

• Are most critical to the COVID-19 response
• Provide direct care to others
• Are at highest risk for developing severe illness from COVID-19

Initial doses will go to the groups identified as priority populations in Phase 1A by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). This includes high-risk health care workers and long-term care facility residents. These priority populations were also recommended by Vermont’s COVID-19 Vaccine Implementation Advisory Committee and approved by Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD.

Vermont is using age groupings to distribute the vaccine with the primary goal of saving lives. After people 65 years and older group, the vaccine will be offered to people with medical conditions that put them at increased risk for severe illness. Decisions about who will get the vaccine next are being made now. The Health Department works with State leadership to make these difficult choices after considering recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, CDC, and Vermont’s Vaccine Implementation Advisory Committee. Based on our data, we know that focusing next on providing vaccine to people based on their age and whether they have certain high-risk health conditions will help us save lives. 

Learn more on our About COVID-19 Vaccines in Vermont web page

Ensuring Equitable Access

When a COVID-19 vaccine is more widely available, we will work closely with the health care providers, pharmacies, and others who will provide the vaccine in Vermont, to ensure access across the state. We will also collaborate with community organizations and other partners to make sure people who are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, including Black, Indigenous and people of color, have equitable access to the vaccine.   

Sharing Information with Vermonters

We are committed to sharing ongoing updates with Vermonters as we continue to make plans for vaccine distribution, and as we learn more about strategies at the national level.