Everyone 16 and older in Ada County is eligible now for COVID-19 vaccine
Effective immediately, anyone at least 16 years old in Ada, Boise, Elmore and Valley counties can get a COVID-19 vaccine, Central District Health announced Tuesday.
The health district made the move just a day after the COVID-19 vaccine was made available statewide for anyone older than 16 with a medical condition. Southeastern Idaho Public Health District — which includes Pocatello and Blackfoot — also expanded eligibility and will allow anyone 16 and older to book appointments beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
The two public health districts expanded eligibility nearly a week earlier than planned. Vaccines become available to anyone in Idaho 16 and older for the rest of the state starting Monday, April 5.
According to a news release from CDH, a “significant increase” in state vaccine allocation and vaccines received from federal resources has boosted the number of available vaccines in the health district.
State health officials allowed separate public health districts to determine whether they could move forward with eligibility groups more quickly. North Idaho health districts also already expanded eligibility this week as vaccine providers saw unfilled appointments and declining demand for vaccines.
Pfizer vaccines are the only ones approved for 16- and 17-year-olds, but all three U.S.-approved shots are permitted for adults. Health officials recommend getting whatever shot is available.
CDH has also added information to its vaccine provider list to show what brand of vaccine is being received through state, local and federal allocations. While vaccine providers may have a specific brand of vaccine, the release notes that different vaccines can be offered in different settings. Some brands may be designated for a workplace vaccine clinic while others are offered to the general public.
Those looking for a vaccine can use the state’s registration tool to sign up to be added to a list that vaccine providers use to connect people with available vaccines. For those without internet, appointments can be scheduled over the phone by calling 208-321-2222 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Fewer than 100 Idahoans have contracted COVID-19 after vaccination
State health officials have identified 97 COVID-19 cases reported among people who have been fully vaccinated. About half of the people had received the Pfizer vaccine and half the Moderna, according to Dr. Kathy Turner, with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
Turner said three people with underlying health conditions had to be hospitalized, and health officials confirmed that at least three people had contracted the COVID-19 variant found in California.
Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen told reporters during a weekly press conference that Idaho is scheduled to receive 82,190 first doses of COVID-19 vaccines next week. Less than 0.1% of Idaho’s allotted vaccine doses have been wasted, and those often were the result of things such as broken seals, leaking vials or accidentally dropping doses, officials said.
This story was originally published March 30, 2021 at 4:04 PM.
