Innkeepers are a busy bunch. To save you time, VLA attends Governor Scott’s Covid-19 Press Conferences and takes notes for you. Below is the summary from 5.11.21
During today’s press conference, Secretary Mike Smith announced that Vermont will open up vaccination eligibility to Vermonters aged 12-15 as soon as final approval is granted, likely Thursday. In addition to the current administration sites, the state will be setting up school based clinics to assist in vaccinated the 27,000 young Vermonters in this group beginning May 17th. Governor Scott also announced that because we’ve already met our June 1 vaccination goal, the state is considering accelerating Phase 3 and the July 4th reopening date of the Vermont Forward Plan. Details will be discussed at Friday’s press conference.
NOTES:
- Secretary Smith
- Vermont leading way nationally in many of the vaccine measures.
- Strategy is to meet people in their communities.
- Planning stages of vaccination effort for restaurant workers.
- Pending approval – will open vaccination to 12-15 year olds immediately. If it happens outside of school hours, will be at 8:15 am the following morning. Clinics being scheduled at more than 40 schools across the state. Instructions will be coming out from schools. Requesting extra Pfizer doses from the federal re-allocation program.
- Commissioner Pieciak
- US creeping closer to having 50% of population with at least one dose.
- Second lowest number of cases per capita in the country – makes us more susceptible to virus now.
- Leading in 4 of 5 most important metrics nationally.
- Project that 180 lives have been saved by vaccine program.
- Improvement in Vermont in 30 and under category.
- Gaining in BIPOC vaccination rates.
- Bottom of range of June 1 goal.
- 390 cases this week – 146 fewer than last week.
- Hospitalization rate lowest in country.
- 2 fatalities so far in May.
- Maine has seen dramatic increase in those needing ICU care. Ages younger.
- Cases in Northeast falling.
- Chief Prevention Officer Monica Hutt
- Afterschool and Summer programming core prevention strategy.
- Voluntary surveillance testing for day camps.
- Commissioner Levine
- 52 cases reported today.
- Positivity rate 1.2%
- 50 outbreaks being followed.
- Expected that final approval for 12-15 year olds will come tomorrow evening.
- Governor Scott:
- Pfizer and Moderna doses will remain same as last week, but no J and J this week. Shouldn’t set us back.
- Expanding walk ins, drive throughs, mobile site. Hit 60% target – 20% ahead of schedule.
- Considering accelerating Vermont Forward plan – Step 3 and Final step now scheduled for July 4. More information on Friday.
- Questions:
- For 12-15 year olds – will have to have proof of parental consent. Will be a form. 27K in this population.
- Will be signing bill on statute of limitations re: childhood abuse.
- Timeline for vaccine under 12 – have heard as early as July, but we’ve heard fall. Trial ongoing.
- Scott doesn’t support what House Republicans are doing re: Liz Cheney. But not seeing same “litmus test” for Trump support on Senate side and Governors.
- Not considering cash incentives for vaccination as a state at this point.
- State of Emergency extended.
- Recognition for VPR’s John Dillon’s retirement.
- Budget – Scott says there’s not disagreement on content – just where they’re getting money from – feels strongly that we need to use money to transform Vermont. Still waiting to hear from them what their plan is for the entire $1 billion.
- H.360 isn’t going to meet entire goal – maybe half of it.
- Vermont Forward plan is based on total population vaccination – not just over 18.
- Scott would like to see Canadian border reopen, but doesn’t think it’s quite the time yet.
- School-based vaccine clinics for 12 and up will begin next Monday, the 17th. But community-based vaccine clinics (pharmacies etc.) will start vaccinating that age group by Thursday, assuming CDC directive.