Arkansans eligible for vaccine

Arkansas began vaccinating Dec. 14 against covid-19, phasing in high-risk populations and essential workers. Groups that are eligible now and those still waiting are listed below. For help making an appointment or for questions about eligibility, phone the Arkansas Department of Health’s vaccination scheduling hot line at 1-800-985-6030.

Phase 1-A (All are eligible now)

Who: Health care workers, long-term care residents and staff, EMS, fire and law enforcement who serve as first responders and other high priority groups. How: Hospitals vaccinate workers. Pharmacies vaccinate long-term care residents/staff. Community-based pharmacies vaccinate others.

Phase 1-B (All are eligible now)

Who: People 65+ years old, teachers and school staff, child care and higher education workers, food manufacturing workers, agricultural workers, firefighters and police not in 1-A, manufacturing workers, grocery store workers, public transit workers, child care workers, U.S. Postal Service workers, essential government workers.

How: Community pharmacies and medical clinics.

Phase 1-C (All are eligible now)

Who: People 16-64 years old with high-risk medical conditions and workers in transportation and logistics, water and wastewater, food service, shelter and housing, finance, IT and communications, energy, media, public safety and public health workers. How: Community pharmacies and medical clinics.

Phase 2

A large number of doses will be available allowing the general population to be vaccinated.

Phase 3

Enough doses will be available for all needing vaccination, and there will be a shift to providing routine covid-19 vaccinations.