An expert committee put people 75 and older and essential workers like firefighters, teachers and grocery store workers next in line for COVID-19 shots as a second vaccine began rolling out Sunday. The vaccination program has given initial shots to about 556,000 Americans, according to the CDC. The vaccines go first to health care workers and residents of long-term care homes, based on the advice of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The committee voted Sunday to put people 75 and older as well as certain front-line workers next in line for the vaccines. Those essential workers include firefighters and police officers; teachers and school staff; food and agriculture workers; manufacturing workers; corrections workers; U.S. Postal Service workers; public transit and grocery store workers. The committee also voted that behind those groups should be other essential workers; people ages 65 to 74; and those aged 16 to 64 who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe disease if they get infected with COVID-19. Nearly 8 million doses will be distributed today, about 5.9 million of the Moderna vaccine and 2 million of the vaccine from Pfizer. Public health experts say the shots are the only way to stop a virus that has been spreading wildly. There won’t be enough shots for the general population until at least spring, so doses will be rationed at least for the next several months. Both the vaccines require two doses several weeks apart. The second dose must be from the same company as the first. Both vaccines appeared safe and strongly protective in large, still unfinished studies.
