STORY BY KAREN BOSSICK

COVID GRAPHS BY PAUL RIES

Idaho Health and Welfare has released a chart showing when you might be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Idaho.

The table shows that essential workers and older adults could begin receiving the vaccine in February 2021.

That includes:

First responders (other than EMS) and safety (fire/police/protective services/community support)

 Pre-K–12 school staff and teachers and daycare [childcare] workers

Correctional and detention facility staff (other than medical)

Food processing workers

Grocery and convenience store workers

Idaho National Guard (other than medical)

Other essential workers not already included and unable to telework or to distance from others at work

Adults 75 years of age or older

In April:

 Adults 65 and older, people aged 16-64 with medical conditions that increase the risk for severe COVID-19 and essential workers not included in previous phases could begin receiving the vaccine.

In May the department says it hopes the vaccine will be available to the general public.

Currently, the state is vaccinating health care workers, including dentists, dental hygienists, pharmacists and emergency response workers, and residents and employees at long-term care facilities.

So far, 11,729 Idahoans have received either a Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. Both vaccines require two doses to be 95 percent effective. So far, more than half of Saint Alphonsus healthcare workers have been vaccinated.

That means .65 percent of Idahoans have been vaccinated, considering Idaho has 1.787 million residents.