People age 70 and older next in line for COVID-19 shots

DAYTON—At a Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, the Columbia County Health Department released new information from the Washington Dept. of Health for vaccination phases. There has been a change regarding which group is next in line to be vaccinated, after vaccinations for healthcare workers, first responders, who are at high risk, residents in long-term facilities, and other workers in healthcare settings.

The Dayton General Hospital Vaccination Team has decided that our first focus will be to vaccinate individuals that are over the age of 70,” said Stephanie Carpenter, Chief Operating Officer for CCHS.

According to the new guidance from DOH, Phase B1 is all people over the age of 70, and all people 50 years of age and older who live in multigenerational households are next in line.

This will be followed by Phase B2 for people who are high-risk critical workers, 50 years and older, who work in certain congregate care settings.

Phase B3 is for people 16 years and older with two or more comorbidities or underlying conditions.

Phase B4 is for high-risk critical workers under the age of 50, who work in certain congregate settings.

The vaccine phases and detailed information about them are posted on the Columbia County Public Health Department website at http://www.columbiaco.com/506/COVID-19.

People are encouraged to call the Public Health Department to be placed on the waiting list at 382-2181.