Gov. Asa Hutchinson is opening the Phase 1C category up for vaccine eligibility.
Effective March 16, individuals in the Phase 1C category will be able to schedule an appointment and receive a COVID-19 vaccination. According to Hutchinson, there are almost one million Arkansans who fit into this category.
The Phase 1C category consists of Arkansans aged 16 to 64 with health conditions that increase their risk for “severe COVID-19;” essential workers in the energy, finance, food service, information technology and communications, legal, media, public health/human services, public safety, shelter and housing, and transportation and logistics fields; and individuals living in “high-risk settings.” According to the Department of Health, this includes individuals who are incarcerated or detailed, individuals living in group homes, congregate settings, crowded housing, or student housing, including dorms and Greek housing.
Previously, Hutchinson has stated that he did not expect to open Phase 1C until the end of March. However, President Joe Biden called on the states to open vaccine eligibility with a goal of making all American adults eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination by May 1. “This has encouraged the states to accelerate their opening of the eligibility of the criteria in order to get to that goal by May 1,” Hutchinson said.
Despite the vaccination eligibility, Hutchinson warned that not everyone in Phase 1C will be able to receive a vaccine immediately. Noting that Phase 1B is still in progress, Hutchinson said that vaccine supplies are still limited but that state officials are committed to maintaining and increasing demand for vaccinations.
“Not everybody in 1B has been vaccinated but it is important to move to 1C so that we can open up more and keep the demand coming for the vaccine to make sure that there’s not any gaps and to give everyone the best opportunity to get the vaccine who wants one and who needs it,” he said.
“We want to make sure that we keep the demand there. Call for an appointment – it might be a while before you get that appointment. Be patient, understanding that there is that backlog.”
To date, Arkansas has received 1,499,580 vaccine doses with 863,880 doses given. There are 265,115 individuals who are partially immunized and 303,823 individuals fully immunized.
