State releases more detail on who is eligible for COVID-19 vaccine under 1-C priority group

If you’ve been waiting for a COVID-19 vaccine, but thought you weren’t eligible yet, it might be a good idea to check some new guidelines updated late last week and posted on the Arkansas Department of Health website.

The state last week released some more detailed information on who is currently eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine under the 1-C priority guidelines that include a host of essential worker groups, and Arkansans with certain health conditions that put them at higher risk if they contract the virus.

These are in addition to the 1-A group (primarily health care workers), and the 1-B group (which included individuals 65 and older, and essential workers in Education, Police, fire, other first responders, Corrections
Food and Agriculture, People with intellectual or developmental disabilities, Essential Government, Grocery Store/Meal Delivery, Postal/Package Delivery Service. Public Transit. Houses of Worship Clergy/Faith Leaders, and Manufacturing) which have been eligible for several weeks.

When the governor opened up the 1-C eligibility on March 16, he estimated about 1 million Arkansans would fit into the priority group now eligible for the vaccine. The categories he announced at the time were pretty broad, and included essential workers in several categories including energy, finance, food service, IT and communication, legal, media, public health/human services, public safety, shelter and housing, and transportation and logistics, along with and those with pre-existing conditions aged 16-64, and people living in congregate settings.

The guidelines updated late last week include some clarifications and more detail on who is currently eligible.

The governor is likely just days or weeks away from opening up COVID-19 vaccines to any adult who wants one. President Biden has requested that all states open up vaccines to all adults by May 1. Neighboring states like Mississippi have already opened vaccination up to any adult who wants a shot, and Texas officials today announced they would do the same on March 29.

We went ahead and listed all the info on the 1-C priority group now eligible for the vaccine below.

More information on where you may be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine is available in the ‘Vaccine update’ section of our regular case update reports, as well as on the Arkansas Department of Health website.


Phase 1-C Priority Group currently eligible for COVID-19 vaccine in Arkansas

People 16-64 years of age with certain medical conditions that increase risk for severe COVID- 19 Eligible conditions are found on the CDC web page under ”People with Certain Medical Conditions”, located here. The conditions included are listed below. People who are uncertain if they have a condition on the list should speak with their doctor.

Eligible Medical Conditions under 1-C

  • Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
  • Cancer
  • Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain), includes history of stroke
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Diabetes mellitus (Type 1and 2)
  • Heart conditions
  • Hypertension or high blood pressure
  • Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant, blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines
  • Liver disease
  • Neurologic conditions, such as dementia
  • Obesity (BMI of 30 or greater)
  • Overweight (BMI > 25 kg/m2, but < 30 kg/m2)
  • Pregnancy
  • Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)

Transportation and Logistics (not vaccinated in 1B)
Activities of this sector are providing transportation of cargo, warehousing and storing goods, packaging and preparing goods to be shipped, providing maintenance, fueling, towing, and providing support activities related to modes of transportation.

  • Gas Station and Truck Stop workers Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers Automotive Repair and Maintenance Diesel Truck Mechanics
  • Truck drivers
  • Road-side assistance
  • Highway workers (if not vaccinated as part of ARDOT Essential Government Workers) Railroad workers
  • Inland water ways (lock & dam) workers (not vaccinated through the Corps of Engineers) Port authority workers
  • Airport workers, including regional and municipal airport workers
  • Water transportation workers (captains, mates, pilots, deck hands, etc.)
  • Traveler Accommodation workers
  • Hotel/Lodging workers
  • Vehicle (RV) Camps and Park workers
  • Support Services for Transportation
  • Printing and Related Support Activities for transportation
  • Graphic Design Services for transportation
  • Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods
  • Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods
  • Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses (e.g. Amazon)
  • Packaging and Labeling Services
  • Warehousing and Storage
  • Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing
  • Commercial Air, Rail, and Water Transportation Equipment Rental and Leasing Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services

Food Service
Activities of this sector are preparing meals, snacks, and beverages for immediate on-premises and/or off-premises consumption.

  • Restaurant workers
  • Quick serve/fast food workers Food truck workers
  • Catering service workers

Shelter and Housing
Activities of this sector include constructing residential housing, repairing residential housing, selling of residential housing, providing support services for designing both the interior and exterior portions of residential facilities, and providing shelter for in-need communities.

  • Community Housing Services
  • Homeless shelter workers and residents Domestic abuse shelter workers and residents
  • Juvenile Residential Facilities for Youth workers and residents Plumbers
  • Electricians
  • Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) workers Construction workers
  • Miscellaneous Store Retailers
  • Real Estate
  • Interior Design Services needed for building construction
  • Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
  • Construction, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing

Finance
Activities of this sector are the creation, liquidation, or change in ownership of financial assets (financial transactions) and/or facilitating financial transactions; raising funds by taking deposits and/or issuing securities and, in the process, incurring liabilities; pooling of risk by underwriting insurance and annuities; and providing specialized services facilitating or supporting financial intermediation, insurance, and employee benefit programs.

  • Bank/Credit Union tellers and other public-facing employees of financial institutions Armored cash carriers
  • Check-Cashing Store workers
  • Monetary Authorities-Central Bank
  • Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (Credit lenders)
  • Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities Insurance Carriers and Related Activities
  • Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles
  • Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services
  • Management of Companies and Enterprises
  • Credit Bureaus

Information Technology and Communications
The activities of this sector are producing and distributing information and cultural products; providing the means to transmit or distribute these products as well as data or communications; processing data; and installing, maintaining, repairing, and selling equipment essential to these processes.

  • Telecommunications workers
  • Internet and cable workers, such as Comcast, Direct TV, Infinity
  • Call Centers
  • Software Publishers
  • Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services
  • Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals
  • Computer Systems Design and Related Services
  • Electronics Repair and Maintenance
  • Computer and Office Machine Repair and Maintenance Communication Equipment Repair and Maintenance

Energy
Activities of this sector are generating, transmitting, and/or distributing electricity, gas, steam, and water; refining crude petroleum into refined petroleum; providing advice and assistance to energy businesses and other organizations on environmental issues; and other support as needed.

  • Utilities (excluding water and waste water, which are in Phase 1B) Power Generation and Supply
  • Nuclear One workers
  • Southwest Power Pool and MISO workers Entergy and Electric Cooperative workers
  • Propane, natural gas, and natural gas liquid (NGL) company workers Oil and Gas Extraction workers
  • Petroleum Refinery workers
  • Mining (except Oil and Gas)
  • Support Activities for Mining Pipeline Transportation Environmental Consulting Services

Legal
Activities of this sector are offering legal services, such as those offered by offices of lawyers, offices of notaries, and title abstract and settlement offices, and paralegal services.

  • Legal Services
  • Offices of Lawyers
  • Offices of Notaries
  • Other Legal Services: Notary public, Paralegal services, Patent agent services Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
  • Legal Interpreters

Media
Activities of this sector are interviewing sources for news stories, photographing or videoing events as they occur, disseminating news through various media including television, print, and radio, selling ads, selling media, printing media, and executive functions.

  • Reporters for Television, Radio, and Print News Media Service workers
  • Meteorologists/Weather Reporters
  • News Dealers and Newsstands
  • Newspaper Publishers Periodical Publishers Broadcasting (except Internet) News Syndicates

Public Safety
Activities of this sector are dispatching emergency services via phone lines, guarding significant facilities, and overseeing the rental and leasing of dangerous equipment for worksites.
911 workers

  • Certified Security guards
  • Public Health/Human Service Workers
  • Activities of this sector are providing and/or planning, administrating, and coordinating public health and social services programs and services, including workers delivering services in homes or other community settings, as well as people receiving the services provided.
  • Administration of Public Health Programs (not vaccinated in 1B) Home-maker Service workers
  • Personal Assistance workers
  • Paid/unpaid Caregivers, including Development Disability Services waiver Area Agencies on Aging workers
  • Senior Center workers
  • Adult Day Care workers
  • Foster Parents
  • Foster Home Case Managers and Staff of Private Licensed Placement Agencies Therapeutic Foster Care Services
  • DHS Division of Children and Family Services Intensive In-home Service Providers
  • DHS Division of Children and Family Services Home Visitation Services
  • In-home Parenting Educators
  • People 16 and older receiving services through the Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Services
  • Entities (PASSE), if not vaccinated in Phase 1B
  • People receiving services through DHS aging and physical disability waivers (ARChoices, Living Choices, PACE)
  • DHS Division of Youth Services Community-Based Services Providers
  • Scientific and Technical Consulting Services engaged in providing advice and assistance to businesses and other organizations on scientific and technical issues. Examples include agricultural, biological, economic, safety, and security consulting.
  • Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Science includes entities engaged in conducting research and experimental development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences, such as agriculture, electronics, environmental, biology, botany, biotechnology, computers, chemistry, food, fisheries, forests, geology, health, mathematics, medicine, nanotechnology, pharmacy, physics, veterinary, and other allied subjects.

Persons Residing in High-risk Settings

  • People who are incarcerated or detained
  • People living in group homes, congregate settings, or crowded housing
  • Crowded housing means a household in which two or more families live together and there are 7 or more people (of any age) total living in the household. People living in student housing, such as dormitories and Greek housing