COVID-19 was initially identified in Wuhan, China during December of 2019. Since then, drug companies worked towards developing a vaccine that would effectively prevent more infections and deaths among humanity. After just twelve months, Pfizer’s remedy gained a stamp of approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It was on December 11th when they announced, “The emergency use authorization [EUA] allows the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to be distributed in the U.S.”

Just a short week later, a second EUA was issued for a newer vaccine. “The emergency use authorization allows the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to be distributed in the U.S for use in individuals 18 years of age and older,” Chief Scientist of the FDA, Denise Hinton, stated in a letter to Moderna’s Head of Regulatory Affairs Infectious Diseases.

Now, these vaccines have crossed the threshold of Washington County, MN. The United States’ supply remains modest, causing the local government to facilitate vaccinations in a strategic way that cooperates with the nation’s health protection agency. “Vaccines are being distributed following the priority groups set forth by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” it reads on Washington County’s website.

This statement leaves room to wonder what the “priority groups” look like in one’s mind. Essentially, the CDC outlines three phases of COVID-19 vaccine distribution. COVID-19 vaccine

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The first phase consists of three parts; 1a, 1b, and 1c. Phase 1a suggests that both healthcare personnel and members of long-term care facilities should be top priority when it comes to getting vaccinated. Washington County, MN incorporates emergency medical service workers in this period, too. The Public Information Manager a part of the county’s Office of Administration, Yvonne Klinnert, explained to The Journal, “The goal for the first doses of vaccine, Phase 1a, is to protect those who are exposed to COVID-19 every day because of what they do, who they care for, or where they live.”

The next parts of Phase 1, “B” and “C”, may overlap, according to the CDC. Even so, each section differs in definition. Phase 1b consists of people 75 years and older that were excluded from Phase 1a, as well as frontline essential workers. “…fire fighters, police officers, corrections officers, food and agricultural workers, United States Postal Service workers, manufacturing workers, grocery store workers, public transit workers, and those who work in the educational sector (teachers, support staff, and daycare workers)” are the workers that the CDC refers to in Phase 1b.

Finally, Part “C” of Phase 1 acknowledges a need to vaccinate people 65-74 years old that live independently, 16-64 year-olds diagnosed with underlying health conditions, and another batch of essential workers. The CDC specifies who could be vaccinated during that period, “…people who work in transportation and logistics, food service, housing construction and finance, information technology, communications, energy, law, media, public safety, and public health.”

Once the first round of vaccinations are completed among these demographics, Phase 2 will begin. The MDH claims that anybody listed in Phase 1 that has yet to be vaccinated, would be in Phase 2. In addition, adults who reside in communities that were deeply oppressed by COVID-19, could be eligible.

This leaves one final group to elaborate on; Phase 3. “In phase 3…anyone who wishes to be vaccinated will be able to get the vaccine,” the MDH assures.

Although the CDC’s three phases of distribution are carefully spelled out, the timeline of each phase can’t be. The MDH’s website reads, “Moving from one phase to another will depend on vaccine supply and how many people are getting vaccinated, so it is hard to estimate when one phase will end and another will begin.”

At this time, Washington County, MN is still leading Phase 1a in the region. Again, this means that local healthcare personnel/ emergency medical service employers, and long-term care facilities are ensuring that their people receive a vaccine right now. Based on Klinnert’s knowledge, Washington County, MN will begin Phases 1b and 1c “in the next few months’’. Citizens who fall under those two must play it by ear for when they will be eligible for a vaccination. “The Minnesota Department of Health will provide information once it’s available on future priority groups and how they will be notified when they can receive a vaccine,” Washington County, MN informs on their website.

If Cottage Grove residents are sorted into Phases 2 and 3 of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution, they should understand that their date of vaccination will come, even if it is not marked. “At this time, the CDC has not addressed vaccine distribution beyond Phase 1. It is expected that the general public will have access to the vaccine in late spring to summer of 2021,” Klinnert revealed.

Although a timeline of each phase is not indicated within this region, drug production is not decreasing. The MDH writes, “…vaccine manufacturers will continue to make doses available weekly so that vaccination can keep moving through phases.”

Many people in Cottage Grove anticipate receiving their shot, being that Washington County remains in Phase 1a. However, as they sit in the waiting room, they can occupy the remainder of this era by wearing a mask, keeping six feet away from others, washing their hands constantly, and remaining at home when they feel ill.

Lastly, Cottage Grove’s people should take comfort from a statement published by the MDH, “Everyone’s opportunity to get vaccinated will come; it will just take some time.”