Dear USET/USET SPF Family,
This alert is being sent to keep our community updated on current information regarding recent news articles circulating regarding The World Health Organization’s (WHO) recent revision on COVID-19 vaccine prioritization. WHO is responsible for providing global guidance on health, which always includes the caveat that each country should analyze its own considerations and context when determining vaccination schedules and recommendations.
WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) met in late March to review and revise COVID-19 vaccine prioritization in the context of global health. The priority levels (high, medium, low) are based on factors contributing to the greatest risk of death and severe disease while maintaining health systems. The priority levels consider high population-level immunity from infection and vaccination and a new factor, cost effectiveness. The WHO high priority group includes older adults, younger adults with significant comorbidities (ex. diabetes, heart disease) and people with immunocompromising conditions (ex. HIV), including children aged 6 months and older, pregnant persons, and frontline workers. The WHO medium priority group includes healthy adults without comorbidities and children and adolescents with comorbidities. The WHO low priority group includes healthy children and adolescents aged 6 months to 17 years old.
USET TEC is not currently recommending WHO’s strategy, but is instead in agreement with the CDC’s recommendations staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, which includes the most recent guidance from the CDC of receiving the bivalent booster vaccine in addition to a primary series. Current CDC guidance on specific vaccination schedules is linked. The WHO must provide guidance to all
countries around the world, including low resource countries as well as high resource countries. Many citizens of Tribal Nations are at higher risk than average of serious illness from COVID-19. There are still efforts needed to address vaccine inequities and to increase vaccination uptake. USET Vax-A-Nation Vaccine Campaign tool kit resources are linked for your use. These resources can be customized as needed to fit your Tribal Nations’ specific needs or branding.
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