https://archive.ph/TEcHi Wesley Yang‏ @wesyang 1 Apr 2021

Non-BIPOC Vermonters presently have to be over the age of 50 to sign up for the vaccine. Vt Governor just announced that any BIPOC person over the age of 16 can sign up.

CDC withdrew guidance that would prioritized essential workers before the elderly (who are the by far the most likely to die from covid) because the latter group was disproportionately white after the guidance attracted controversy.

But here's Scott just going for it.

https://archive.ph/TS1xM Governor Phil Scott‏Verified account @GovPhilScott 1 Apr 2021

If you or anyone in your household identifies as Black, Indigenous, or a person of color (BIPOC), including anyone with Abenaki or other First Nations heritage, all household members who are 16 years or older can sign up to get a vaccine! Get yours at

Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine Find information about getting your COVID-19 vaccine. healthvermont. gov

https://archive.ph/RN4N4 Governor Phil ScottVerified account @GovPhilScott

82nd Governor of Vermont Vermont

https://archive.ph/vks94 https://web.archive.org/web/20210401161718/https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/vaccine/getting-covid-19-vaccine

HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS OF BIPOC VERMONTERS

If you or anyone in your household identifies as Black, Indigenous, or a person of color (BIPOC), including anyone with Abenaki or other First Nations heritage, all household members who are 16 years or older can sign up to get a vaccine.

https://archive.ph/lcBRj https://web.archive.org/web/20210401031538/https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/vaccine/about-covid-19-vaccines-vermont#equity

HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE

The Health Department works with State leadership to make these difficult choices after considering recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, CDC, and Vermont’s Vaccine Implementation Advisory Committee. Based on our data, we know that focusing next on providing vaccine to people based on their age and whether they have certain high-risk health conditions will help us save lives.

Equity is also a consideration in our vaccination efforts. We are committed to addressing the historical and current factors that contribute to health disparities. Members of certain demographic groups have been disproportionately overrepresented in Vermont’s COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death rates. Because of these increased risks, historical harms and the resulting mistrust of health care and public health, we will ensure that Black, Indigenous and people of color in Vermont community gets the support they need, in the language they need, in the locations they need, to make informed choices and to get scheduled for vaccinations.

Working toward equity

As part of our strategy to prioritize Vermonters most at risk of severe illness and save lives, we have also begun vaccinating Vermonters in communities that have unique needs, such as people who speak languages other than English and people who are homebound. This requires us to meet people where they are and find ways to reduce known barriers to vaccine access where we can. We will continue to do this as more vaccine becomes available and we are able to reach more people in Vermont. Below are some examples of ways we are working to meet Vermonters where they are to work toward equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

VERMONTERS WHO ARE BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC)

We still have much more to do to address the significant disparities in the rates of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death among Vermonters who are Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC). Right now we are working with funded community partners to understand the barriers that might limit vaccine access for BIPOC Vermonters, as these require unique public health solutions. This coordinated vaccination effort is an important step in working with and compensating trusted community partner networks to reach some of the most historically marginalized people in Vermont. 

PEOPLE WHO SPEAK LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH

The Health Department has begun holding clinics for Vermonters who are eligible by their age grouping — and their family members age 16 and older — who need safe access to linguistically and culturally appropriate services. We work with cultural liaisons, have interpreters on hand or easily accessible, and provide accurately translated materials for these Vermonters.  We understand that language barriers and other factors faced by immigrant and refugee communities have led to outbreaks, disproportionate outcomes, and a markedly greater risk of COVID-19. It makes good public health sense to allow families and households facing language and access barriers to get information and services at the same time, rather than duplicate these services later on. 

MIGRANT FARM WORKER VACCINATION INITIATIVE  

To ensure equitable access to vaccine for migrant farm workers, we are working closely with our local health offices across the state, along with partners Bridges to Health and the Open Door Clinic, who have established connections to migrant agricultural communities. Little Rivers Health Care is supporting these efforts in the Upper Valley region of Vermont. The initiative has started in Addison County, with plans in place to expand across Vermont. These small, on-site vaccinations are being customized to meet the needs of different farms that are home to congregate living spaces. They are for farm workers who meet the current eligibility criteria, along with fellow farm workers living in the same household. 

PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMEBOUND

The Health Department is coordinating vaccination for people who are homebound through a partnership between local home health and EMS agencies. This includes people who are eligible by their age grouping and are both homebound and in the service of local home health agencies (including both VNA agencies and Bayada). We know that there are homebound community members who do not receive home health services who will need to be vaccinated. Once the group of homebound people who are connected to home health agencies are vaccinated, we will expand this service by reaching out through numerous partners, including primary care, Agencies on Aging, and municipalities to identify people to include in the second phase of outreach.

https://archive.ph/STVc6 https:// www. politifact. com/article/2021/mar/31/how-vaccine-passports-might-work-us/

How vaccine passports might work in the US

By Daniel Funke March 31, 2021

"One way to think about vaccine passports is to consider them a get-out-of-jail card that allows people who have had vaccinations to return to pre-pandemic life while potentially protecting people who have not been vaccinated," said Dr. Seema Yasmin, director of the Stanford Health Communication Initiative.

In the U.S., private businesses are generally allowed to create rules for their customers. As the pandemic winds down, some businesses may want their customers to prove that they’re vaccinated against COVID-19. Legal experts have likened vaccine passports to a "no shirt, no shoes, no service" policy.

Airlines like Air France and American Airlines are testing platforms like the IATA Travel Pass, AOKpass and CommonPass to verify passengers’ vaccination or testing status.

Companies like TicketMaster are exploring the idea of letting vendors use vaccine passports to vet concertgoers.

New York already requires citizens to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test before attending weddings, and other states may soon follow.

https://archive.ph/e3xeB Joel Smalley  @RealJoelSmalley 31 Mar 2021

Hearing stories that people are being taken off transplant lists and denied chemo unless they are vaccinated. Can anyone confirm this? Email me at @ protonmail. com in confidence.

Quantitative analyst, specialist in time-series and stochastic data analysis. All views my own, not those of organisations I'm a member of.  Hertford, England

https://archive.ph/zGN8D Joel Smalley ‏ @RealJoelSmalley 1 Apr 2021

Someone has come forward to corroborate this. Name and address supplied but not disclosed. . Apparently, they won't use a safe drug off-label without a clincial trial but transplant is conditional on having experimental medical device implanted.

Unfortunately another report of coercion and mandatory vaccination. Again, name and address supplied.

Nemo Outis @NemoOutisUK Apr 1

In exactly the same way that liver transplants aren’t often given to active alcoholics. Someone else may benefit more from a scarce resource.