COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation

Overview

The development, allocation, and distribution of the coronavirus vaccines has been a major focus for national, state and local organizations advocating for health equity.

Given the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the disability community, older adults, and communities of color, CPR has made it a priority to push for allocation frameworks and distribution plans that effectively meet the needs of these groups.

In October, CPR supported the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) principles for vaccine allocation, available here. These include, among other things

Prioritization of people in all congregate settings and who receive home and community-based services (HCBS)
Prioritization of workers in all congregate settings and who provide Home and Community Based Services
Ensuring that both the information and the means of distribution are accessible
Ensuring compliance with federal civil rights law and guidance

CPR also engaged in state-specific vaccine advocacy with a broad coalition of Massachusetts organizations. This work urged the Commonwealth to develop accessible education and outreach strategies, informed vaccine prioritization decisions, and called for vaccine program accommodations designed to ensure equal access for vulnerable, high-risk communities.

CPR also partnered with generous grantors including Massachusetts Health Decisions, the Tower Foundation, and the WITH Foundation. With their support, the Center conducted 6 listening sessions with a diverse group of disabled people, developed responsive outreach and educational materials on vaccine access, produced resources on informed choice in vaccine decision-making, and prepared know your rights resources on how to seek reasonable accommodations within the State vaccination program.

More information about these advocacy efforts, and the resources described above, can be found under “Advocacy Resources” below.

Advocacy Resources

Massachusetts Vaccine Access Resources

National Resources

Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Civil Rights Principles for Vaccine Development and Distribution (Dec. 2020)
COVID-19 Vaccine Information in Plain Language, Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (Dec. 2020)
States defer to health providers on who gets first vaccines, Politico (12/6/20)
Key Considerations for Counties in COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plans, National Association of Counties
States Are Getting Ready to Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines. What Do Their Plans Tell Us So Far?, Kaiser Family Foundation (11/18/20)
Vaccine Coverage, Pricing, and Reimbursement in the U.S., Kaiser Family Foundation (11/18/20)
Most States Aren’t Ready to Distribute the Leading COVID-19 Vaccine, Propublica (11/10/20)
Joint Position Statement on COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation and Safety, AADMD, NADSP, ANCOR, DDNA, and NASDDDS (10/28/20, updateted 12/6/20)
Distributing a COVID-19 Vaccine Across the U.S. – A Look at Key Issues, Kaiser Family Foundation (10/20/20)
COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Principles, Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (Oct. 2020)

Letters

Comments to CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (10/23/20)
Letter to the HHS Office for Civil Rights on Vaccine Allocation, Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (9/9/20)
Comments to the Committee on Equitable Allocation of Vaccine for the Novel Coronavirus on the Discussion Draft of the Preliminary Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine, Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (9/4/20)

Federal Frameworks and Resources

HHS Office for Civil Rights Guidance on Federal Legal Standards Prohibiting Disability Discrimination in COVID-19 Vaccination Programs
Disability Access in Vaccine Distribution
FEMA Advisory: Civil Rights Considerations During COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Efforts
From the Factory to the Frontlines: The Operation Warp Speed Strategy for Distributing a COVID-19 Vaccine, Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Defense
Answers to National Governors Association Questions on Vaccine Distribution and Planning, Department of Health and Human Services
COVID-19 Vaccination Program Interim Playbook for Jurisdiction Operations, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (10/29/20)
Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine, Committee on Equitable Allocation of Vaccine for the Novel Coronavirus (Oct. 2020)
COVID-19 Vaccines, Food and Drug Administration
Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccines to Prevent COVID-19: Guidance for Industry, Food and Drug Administration (Oct. 2020)

Related Executive Actions and Resources

State and Territory Resources

Some jurisdictions have not yet publicly released their full vaccination plans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has executive summaries of all jurisdictions’ frameworks available here.

Alabama