COVID-19 Vaccine Priority List gets update setting 1c category age to 50 and over

During a briefing, Sheridan Memorial Hospital leadership informed the public of another update to the COVID-19 Vaccination Prioritization List. 

Last week, SMH moved onto the 1c category on the list, which had been updated to more conditions making residents vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19. 

According to SMH Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Addlesperger, that list has been updated again as of March 2, to include anyone aged 50 years and older. 

The updated Priority List can be found here. 

Due to the demand for appointments, the SMH Vaccination Clinic has developed an online option to make appointments. According to Dr. Lekan Ajayi, currently overseeing operations within the clinic, the online option is working well and the clinic has time slots available. 

According to the Wyoming Department of Health, roughly 70% of Wyoming’s COVID-19 related deaths were among people who had known medical conditions that put them at higher risk of severe illness.

Conditions known to increase risk of serious illness due to COVID-19 with the highest priority in Wyoming include: current diagnosis of cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, solid organ transplant, sickle cell disease, Down syndrome and pregnancy.

Other high-risk conditions include: diabetes, heart conditions, obesity (BMI over 30), immunocompromised state from solid organ transplant, blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, taking long-term high dose corticosteroids or other immune weakening medicines, cerebrovascular disease (including stroke) and severe neurologic conditions, according to the WDH. 

Sheridan County residents with any of the listed high-risk conditions and residents aged 50 years or older are eligible to make an appointment to get the vaccine at the SMH Vaccination Clinic.

A link to the scheduling option on the SMH website can be found here. 

The Vaccination clinic is also still making appointments by phone, that number is 307-675-4471. 

More information is also available at the Sheridan County Public Health website – https://www.sheridancounty.com/covid-19/covid-19-vaccines/.