Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Monday that COVID-19 vaccinations would be open to everyone in category 1-B.
This opens up vaccination eligibility to include all manufacturing facilities, public transport, grocery store workers, those working in meal delivery and postal and package delivery services, he announced Monday morning.
The state will also begin a toll-free hotline to assist Arkansans with making a vaccine appointment. Beginning Monday, 20 personnel will be dedicated to assist in making appointments. The number, available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday is 1-800-985-6030 and translation services will be available, the governor said.
The hotline is intended to be supplementary to the existing system of calling your provider or pharmacy, Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson also announced that people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities have been moved into category 1-B, because they are considered a “vulnerable population” and therefore susceptible to the virus.
Hutchinson said the eligibility expansion is a result of noticing a decreased demand over the weekend at mass vaccine clinics. The expansion will include approximately 180,000 Arkansans, he said.
“We noticed we did not have the demand we anticipated,” he said. “That could indicate there’s some resistance to the vaccines… we have to keep the demand up and we have to keep the lines full.”
Hutchinson and health secretary Dr. Jose Romero estimated everyone in this category could receive their vaccine by the end of the month.
Phase 1B
The categories of eligible Arkansans under Phase 1-B of the COVID-19 vaccination plan are detailed below.
People 65 years of age and older
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (including Down syndrome) Police Protection, Fire Protection, and Other First Responders
County Sheriffs and Deputies
Community Police Officers
County and Community Fire Departments (paid and volunteer)
Other Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities
Emergency and Other Relief Services during natural disasters, such as Red Cross
Education
Child Daycare workers K-12 teachers and staff
Referees/Sports Officials (AAA sanctioned) Music education instructors (in school only) School bus drivers
Junior College faculty and staff
Colleges, Universities, and Professional School faculty and staff Business Schools and Computer and Management Training workers Technical and Trade School workers
Vocational Rehabilitation Services workers
Adult Education workers
Educational Support Services workers
Administration of Education Programs
Automobile Driving Schools
Food and Agriculture
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting workers Crop Production
Animal Production and Aquaculture
Cattle Ranching and Farming, including dairy cattle and milk production
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Hog and Pig Farming
Poultry and Egg Production
Sheep and Goat Farming
Aquaculture
Other Animal Production, including bees, horses, fur-bearing animals and rabbits
Forestry and Logging
Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping
Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry H2A Migrant workers
Food Manufacturing
Animal Food Manufacturing
Grain and Oilseed Milling
Flour Milling and Malt Manufacturing
Rice Milling
Soybean and Other Oilseed Processing
Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing
Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing Dairy Product Manufacturing
Animal Slaughtering and Processing
Animal, except poultry, slaughtering Meat processed from carcasses Poultry Processing
Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing
Other Food Manufacturing
Beverage Manufacturing
Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Stores workers
Veterinary Services, including veterinarians and veterinarian technicians, and others who work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics, veterinary testing laboratories
Corrections
Department of Corrections Workers Juvenile Corrections Workers
City and County Jail Workers
Parole and Probation Office workers
Houses of Worship
Clergy Pastors Ministers Priests Rabbis Imams
Other Faith Leaders for Houses of Worship
Transit Workers (Public–facing)
Bus/Van Drivers (includes Charter Buses
All Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation Urban Transit Systems
Employee Bus/Van Drivers
Special Needs Transportation Drivers
Taxi Drivers/Uber/Lyft
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation Airline/Airport Workers
Postal and Package Delivery Services
Postal Service workers Couriers and Messengers
Workers in Courier and Express Delivery Services
such as DHL, Federal Express, UPS. (Amazon is in 1C under Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order) Local Messengers and Local Delivery
Private Mail Centers
Grocery Stores and Meal Delivery
Food and Beverage Stores
General Merchandise Stores, including Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters Community Food Services
Carry-out and Meal Delivery workers
Manufacturing
Non-food manufacturing facility workers
Wood Product Manufacturing workers
Paper Manufacturing workers
Asphalt Paving, Roofing, and Saturated Material Manufacturing Other Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing
Chemical Manufacturing
Plastics and Rubber Product Manufacturing
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing
Primary Metal Manufacturing
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
Machinery Manufacturing
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
Electronic Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
Wood Kitchen Cabinet and Countertop Manufacturing
Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing
Industrial Design Services
Other Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance
Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance
Essential Government Workers
Marshallese Consulate staff Mexican Consulate staff
Federal
Federal Courts, Judges, Attorneys and Support Staff (Eastern and Western Districts) Federal Public Defenders Court Personnel, who enter correctional/jail facilities Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
Legal Counsel and Prosecution
Legal Interpreters and Paralegals, who enter correctional/jail facilities
State
Category 1 Employees of Cabinet Departments
DWS Local Offices (if not included in Category 1)
DHS Central and Local Offices (if not included in Category 1) DFA Local Offices (if not included in Category 1)
Category 1 Employees of Non-cabinet Departments
Category 1 Employees of Constitutional Departments/Offices
Administration of Education Programs
State Courts, Judges, Attorneys and Support Staff
Federal Public Defenders Court Personnel, who enter correctional/jail facilities Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
City and County
County Judge and Quorum Court
Mayor and City Council
City and County Courts, Judges, Attorneys and Support Staff
County and City Attorneys and Public Defenders, who enter correctional/jail facilities Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
Public-facing Clerks
Librarians
Office of Emergency Management workers
Solid Waste/Trash Collection workers (private, county) Water, Sewage, and Other Systems
Waste Management and Remediation Services Administration of Housing Programs
EARLIER:
Gov. Asa Hutchinson will make an announcement on COVID-19 vaccine distribution at 10:30 a.m.
Check back to watch the live video.
[Video not showing up above? Click here to view » https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPnjdYz-Rr8]