Current Status + Info for COVID-19 Vaccinations in Miller County

As of this release The Arkansas Department of Health has yet to provide a viable, thorough, and completed State Vaccination Plan.

Miller County Director of Emergency Management Joe Bennett said, “Under limited guidance from the Arkansas Department of Health, Miller County is doing our best and currently working with area community-based pharmacies on the coordination of Phase 1-A criteria as very limited shipments of the vaccine have arrived for our front line medical and 1st Responder personnel.” “No vaccines have arrived for the phase 1-B group, but citizens can contact local participating pharmacies to sign up or contact the Miller County Health Unit who is the lead agency with the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

Pharmacies in Miller County are presently administering vaccines to the Phase 1-A group. Miller County has not begun Phase 1B as very few doses have arrived. Below is information provided by the Arkansas Department of Health.

Vaccines from pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna have been granted emergency use authorization, meaning doses can be administered in the U.S., including in Arkansas.

The data from the Pfizer and Moderna clinical trials have been carefully reviewed and the FDA signed off on recommendations that found them to be both safe and effective with no significant safety concerns identified.

A robust system is in place to evaluate the safety of the vaccines even after they are in use.

There won’t be enough vaccine initially for all adults who want to receive them. Supply will increase into 2021, and additional vaccines may also be authorized.

Health care workers, residents, and staff of long-term care facilities and EMS, police, and firefighters who serve as first responders are the first 1-A group to be vaccinated, following recommendations from CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Phase 1-B of vaccination begins on Jan. 18 with two groups: Arkansans who are 70 or older and those who work in education, including K-12, higher education, and child care.

If you are a long-term care resident or staff member, you will likely receive the vaccine through a clinic at the facility. If you work in a hospital, you will likely receive the vaccine through a clinic at your worksite. Others who are in 1-A can receive the vaccine through a community-based pharmacy.

Arkansans who are 70 and older can also make an appointment at a community pharmacy beginning on Jan. 18. Vaccine clinics and events may also be available in your area through hospitals and health care providers.

For those who work in education, the district, facility, or college/university should determine how many doses are needed, and then reach out to an ADH Local Health Unit or a community pharmacy to schedule a vaccination clinic.

Both the Moderna and the Pfizer vaccines require two doses administered three or four weeks apart, depending on which vaccine is used.

COVID-19 vaccines for children and adolescents will be developed later.

People who have already been infected with COVID-19 may still benefit from getting a vaccine. It is not yet known how long natural immunity to COVID-19 lasts. It’s also not yet known how long the immunity provided by the vaccine will last.

It will take months to receive enough supplies to administer vaccinations to all the adults who want to receive them.

There are currently three facilities in Miller County registered to receive supplies of the vaccination.