The COVID-19 vaccine is arriving in our county and is currently in limited supply. The county will continue to receive limited allocations on a weekly basis in the coming weeks. At this time, the vaccine will be administered to specific populations. Those who will be eligible to receive the vaccination in the next several weeks include: 

• Persons working in healthcare who have regular potential for exposure to COVID-19 patients;
• Persons who have regular exposure to people who are potentially positive for COVID-19, or those who are exposed to infectious materials.
• Persons who reside in a long-term care facility or setting.

A more detailed list of the groups that are included in this first phase, Phase 1a, can be found here. COVID-19 vaccine is being allocated to counties and then further allocated to hospitals and local public health agencies. Five counties received vaccine during the week of December 14. Going forward, all counties will receive allocations of vaccine. As vaccine becomes available, local public health or hospitals will reach out to agencies that employ individuals who fit within the Phase 1a group to make plans for administering vaccine to those employees. This communication may not be immediate, but will occur as soon as vaccine becomes available to specific groups. Scheduling will take place once the vaccine is available locally through hospitals or local public health agencies. As additional vaccine becomes available, local public health agencies will continue to reach out to specific groups as they become eligible to receive the vaccine.  

Vaccination of long-term care and assisted living facility residents is being coordinated through a federal partnership with several national pharmacy chains, as well as with local public health offices. This effort will tentatively begin in early January.

Due to limited vaccine availability and the need to vaccinate groups in Phase 1a, vaccine is not currently available for other groups or the general public.

We do not have an exact timeframe for when we will move to the next steps, but do expect it will be months before the general public will be able to receive vaccines. As such, it is important to continue following our primary recommendations of wearing masks, social distancing, and staying home when ill.

Please visit the Wyoming Department of Health website for more COVID-19 vaccine resources. Information on the remainder of the phases will be forthcoming as we move forward in vaccinating Wyoming.