The Covid inoculation effort in Idaho is picking up steam. Right now, it's in a transition point, says state public health administrator Elke Shaw-Tulloch.
“The health care personnel, long-term care facility will continue to go forward as we continue to work through our vaccines. But now it’s time to start opening up to front line essential workers and people age 65 and over,” she said.
Beginning this week, K-12 school employees, including teachers, childcare workers and staff members at correctional facilities are eligible to be inoculated. Then, around the first of February, Shaw-Tulloch says older Idahoans can begin to take their turns.
“That age 65 and older population group is a large group so we want to make sure we have ample capacity in the state. So, beginning in February, that population group and the rest of the essential workers will start working on that," she said.
Those essential workers in Idaho include people working in the food and agriculture industries, at manufacturing facilities, postal service, public transit and grocery workers.
The Idaho Panhandle Health District reports it has distributed more than 11,000 doses of Covid vaccine, all that it has received.