Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health Vaccination topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Summit County Health Department opens COVID vaccine clinics after ACIP adoption; shared clinical decision-making explained
Summary
Health staff say the CDC acting director accepted ACIP guidance allowing shared clinical decision-making for COVID-19 vaccination for people 6 months and older; county scheduled mobile clinics this week and says vaccines are available for uninsured residents.
Derek, a Summit County Health Department staff member, told the Board on Oct. 6 that the CDC acting director accepted the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation for shared clinical decision-making on COVID-19 vaccination, making anyone ages 6 months and older eligible to receive the vaccine.
Why it matters: The change broadens eligibility beyond previous criteria and prompted the county to pre-order vaccine doses to ensure local supply. Health officials said they already have both adult and pediatric doses on hand and will use a shared clinical decision-making process — a conversation between patient and a qualified clinical professional — rather than requiring prescriptions.
Derek said, “anyone that is ages 6 months and older is eligible to receive a COVID vaccine.” He said county staff had ordered vaccines early because their allotment is small and would likely be low priority on state lists once official recommendations changed. He added the health department has both adult and pediatric Moderna (Spikevax) doses available and noted clinics planned for the week will also offer flu shots.
Board members asked whether a prescription or formal referral is required under the shared clinical decision-making model. Derek said no prescription is needed; a discussion with county nurses or with a pharmacist satisfies the requirement. He described the practical workflow: people can show up at clinic sites, speak with nurses or pharmacists, and receive vaccination if the clinician and patient decide it is appropriate.
The department also described arrangements for uninsured patients and a small partnership to prioritize very-high-risk patients identified by People’s Health Clinic. Derek said the county set aside a specific clinic date (Oct. 21) to serve People’s Health Clinic patients and that arrangements were in place to provide vaccines free of charge to uninsured individuals.
Clinic schedule (as provided): tomorrow (Camas area) and Wednesday at an LDS church on Main Street (Colville); Thursday at Park City Mountain Resort (signage to direct visitors). Clinics operate 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
On supply and demand, Derek said adult doses are well stocked and pediatric doses were expected to arrive by the evening after the meeting. He said the county will “do everything to the capacity of our staff to keep up with demand” and mentioned cooperation from Salt Lake and Wasatch county partners.
The department reiterated that staff qualified to participate in shared clinical decision-making include nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, medical assistants and pharmacists — and that pharmacists have a state-level agreement enabling them to provide vaccines under this model.
Ending: Health officials encouraged residents seeking vaccine to attend the listed clinics; no appointment or prescription is required for the shared clinical decision-making visit, and uninsured patients can receive vaccine free of charge through county clinics.
