The shift to an age-based COVID-19 proliferation has apparently left essential workers not covered by California’s first phase of deployment high and dry.
The new plan in California, Gavin Newsom, announced on Monday, is intended to simplify the hitherto complicated distribution process for the vaccine in the state – and to ensure that different provinces in the state have a coherent deployment plan for a limited number vaccines adhere. .
The state will continue to vaccinate essential workers currently covered as part of the first phase of Phases 1a and 1b, such as health care workers, teachers and grocery and food workers, but vaccination for other essential workers may be delayed.
This includes workers in transport, manufacturing and industrial services, among others essential workers.
It can also hamper the likelihood that inmates and homeless people will get the vaccine.
The proposal has been condemned by some unions.
Service Workers International Union California, which represents health care workers, government officials, social workers and housekeepers, among others, has occasionally criticized the shift in occupational-based priority.
“Millions of working Californians, mostly coloreds, have no choice but to leave their homes and work every day to expose themselves, their families and their communities to COVID-19 and its devastation,” said Bob Schnoover, the union president, said a statement.
‘California called these workers essential if the state wanted their service through the pandemic; if they are removed from the priority list for vaccination, the state now says they can be spent. ‘
Part of the public health reason for the move, the Sacramento Bee reported, is that vaccinating older populations – with the highest mortality rates and severe COVID-19 cases of any group – could lead to fewer hospitalizations and increased ICU capacity for the general population. .
California remains low in the country on distribution, currently ranking 45th in the percentage of doses used, according to Bloomberg’s COVID-19 vaccine detection.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.