All adult Vermonters will be eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine by April 19, Gov. Phil Scott announced Friday.
Appointments will open on a staggered basis for people in different age groups over the next five weeks. Scott laid out the following schedule:
- Thursday, March 25: 60 and older
- Monday, March 29: 50 and older
- Monday, April 5: 40 and older
- Monday, April 12: 30 and older
- Monday, April 19: 16 and older
To register for a vaccine appointment or get information on walk-in clinics, visit healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine or call 855-722-7878.
You will be asked to provide your name, date of birth, address, email (if available), phone number, and health insurance information (if available, but not required).
Scott said this new schedule would lead to most people who want to be vaccinated getting both doses around June, on track for a return to normalcy by the Fourth of July, more than a “small cookout with friends and family,” he said.
“To put a finer point on it for high school seniors, this timeline means that in June, if we have the vaccination uptake we need, you should be able to have a more traditional graduation and celebrate what you’ve accomplished with your friends and family,” he said.
As of Friday, about 30% of Vermonters 16 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine. The state has been ramping up its clinic schedule with National Guard members and new infrastructure for large clinics, said Mike Smith, secretary of the Agency of Human Services.
The ability to hit vaccine targets is still dependent on Vermont receiving the right allocation from manufacturers via the federal government. The state doesn’t know the fine details of what it will receive beyond the next three weeks, but the White House hopes to provide better estimates in the future, Scott said.
“We’re confident with what they’ve told us, and we wouldn’t be putting this out if we didn’t think we could make it,” Scott said.
President Joe Biden has ordered states to open vaccination appointments to all American adults by May 1. By setting this schedule, Vermont appears to be exceeding that target.
Dr. Mark Levine, commissioner of the Department of Health, said “everyone is going to be enjoying more freedoms this spring,” but cautioned that the spread of variants in Vermont means that residents may have to maintain social distancing for a little while longer.
The state has now found eight specimens of B117 and three specimens of B1429, both more transmissible variants than the original virus, Levine said.
“To really find our way out of this pandemic, we must, on a parallel course, continue to follow the simple guidance of masks and distancing and cautious travel, along with getting registered for vaccination as soon as your age band opens up,” he said.
The state is currently vaccinating people 65 and older, and people of any age with high-risk conditions. Over 80% of people 75 and older and 60% of people 65 to 69 have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
In addition, school and child care staff are also eligible. About 11,000 people in that category have been vaccinated and another 7,300 have made appointments for one, Smith said.
The state has also begun to expand clinics targeting people of color. Clinics planned in Burlington and Brattleboro will allow people of color who are eligible under Vermont’s guidelines to bring their other household members to be vaccinated.
The state reported 135 new cases of the virus Friday, compared to a seven-day average of 118 cases, the Department of Health reported. There were 22 people currently hospitalized with the virus, including five in the ICU. The state reported no new deaths.
New bar guidance
Vermont has expanded its new restaurant guidance to include bars and clubs, Gov. Phil Scott said Friday. The policy takes effect next Wednesday, March 24.
Bars and clubs will be allowed to sit people of different households together with a maximum of six people per table, according to the governor’s website. Other social distancing and capacity requirements remain in place.
Like restaurants, bars will be limited to 50% occupancy. Seating must be available for all patrons, with parties spaced six feet apart. Bar seating is allowed only if there is a physical barrier, like plexiglass, separating patrons from the drink preparation area.
“No standing or mingling is allowed,” according to the guidelines.
Bars and clubs have been closed since Nov. 13, 2020, and many bar owners have been anxious to reopen.
Scott said municipalities will be allowed to enforce stricter bar reopening measures if they choose.
This story was updated at 1:30 to include additional details from the governor’s press conference.
