Update—January 15, 2021

I just heard from a Walpole resident who followed the procedure set out below and contacted a local primary care provider. The resident reports that the primary care provider had not been given any guidance or instruction about how they should interact with the registration process. The resident was concerned that care providers may be overwhelmed with calls that they cannot yet process.

As stated below, phase 1-b will not begin until January 26, and the registration process for phase 1-b will not begin until January 22, so the providers will not be able to interact with it until at least that date, and then only if all goes according to plan.  As of right now, the link only allows access by persons listed in phase 1-a: first responders, high-risk health care providers, and residential facility residents.

I have no way of knowing when care providers will get this information, and would never tell anyone how or when to contact their providers in any case.  But be aware, that, as of right now, the providers have not been given the specifics of how the plan outlined below is to be implemented.  

More news when I hear it.

Keep well,

Lucy

NH COVID-19 Vaccination Plan for Those Aged 65 and Older, and Others

Governor’s Press Conference January 14, 2021

At his press conference today, Governor Sununu described the rollout of the next phase of COVID-19 vaccines.  Please be aware that this is my best effort at notetaking—I have not had materials for review, so there may be inaccuracies.  It is also clear that there will be more information coming out as time goes on.

Phase 1-b  has been redefined, and will start on January 26.  Phase 1-b now includes the following groups:

• All persons 65 or older (This is a change from the earlier 75 or older.)
• Persons who are medically vulnerable, including parents of children under 16 who are medically vulnerable.  (Chilldren under 16 currently cannot get vaccine.) 
• Persons living in institutions for those with developmental disabilities
• Corrections officers

How it will work.  There will be a web site to register for vaccination.  The site is www.vaccines.nh.gov .  

The site will go live on January 22 for persons 65 or older. Vaccination appointments will start January 26.

Here is what you do:

• If you are over 65, you visit the web site and register as being 65 or older, and wanting to be vaccinated.
• When your turn comes, you will receive an email from the web site with a link for you to select a vaccination location and tie that works for you.
• Visit that link and pick your location and time
• Turn up for your vaccination with proof of your birth date showing that you are 65 or over.

• If you are under 65 and medically fragile, or are the parent of a medically fragile child under 16, contact your primary care provider and if you have 2 of the medical conditions that are identified , your primary care provider will notify the registration site.  The site will send you and email to register for a locations and time, and you can proceed as above. 

• If you do not have internet access, contact 211 to get help registering.

• If you have had COVID-19, if you are past the infectious stage, you may get the vaccine if you are in a qualified group, unless you received monoclonal antibody therapy, in which case you must wait 90 days before being vaccinated.

There are still a lot of unanswered questions.  

First of all, NH is currently getting about 17,000 doses of vaccine per week.  It is going to take a lot of time to get to everyone.  

Second, the Governor did not say, and no one at the press conference asked, how they are going to manage appointments for the second dose of vaccine.  I have heard that some people who have received a first shot are currently having difficulty getting an appointment for a second shot.  I will try to find out how that is being managed, but I have no more information about how that will take place.

More information when I find it out.  In the meantime, and even after you have been vaccinated, wear your mask, keep your distance, wash your hands, and keep well.

~Representative Lucy Weber

603-499-0282

Lwmcv@comcast.net