CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – A new COVID-19 vaccination schedule has been released by the Tennessee Department of Health, giving priority to at-risk workers and those with other health conditions.

The vaccination process has already begun in Tennessee, with many in the first phase, health care workers and first responders, having received their first inoculation. According to the TDOH’s Vaccination Dashboard, as of Dec, 29 almost 80,000 Tennesseans have received their first dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. But on Wednesday TDH made a significant change to its vaccine rollout schedule, adding age groups as a priority and an estimated timeline for availability.

Timeline for vaccinations (Tennessee Department of Health)

Age priorities supersede schedule

In addition to the new schedule, which is subject to change, Tennesseans are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine based upon age group, and those age groups will supersede the at-risk and exposure group schedules.

Tennesseans 75 or older will be able to receive the vaccine in January 2021, with additional groups being added 10 years at a time throughout 2021.

A breakdown of age demographics to receive the COVID-19 vaccine according to the TN Dept. of Health. Dec. 30, 2020

For those not already vaccinated because of their age, the rollout will go in these phases:

Phase 1a1

Phase 1a1 includes inpatient and other high-exposure healthcare workers, first responders as well as long term care facility residents and staff. This phase also includes adults who are unable to live independently.

Phase 1a1 has already begun, with Tennova Healthcare-Clarksville staff and Montgomery County and Clarksville first responders having already received their first shot.

This phase includes approximately 450,000 people statewide.

Phase 1a2

Phase 1a2 is set to begin in January and will include outpatient healthcare workers with direct patient exposure. This includes pharmacists, oral health providers, behavioral health providers, outpatient laboratory staff, environmental services, and others.

There are around 200,000 Tennesseans in this group.

Phase 1b

Beginning in late February/early March, Phase 1b includes K-12 and child care staff and additional first responders.

This group also includes approximately 200,000 people.

Phase 1c

Phase 1c includes anyone 16 years or older with conditions that put them at greater risk from COVID-19.

Qualifying conditions include cancer, chronic renal disease, COPD, pulmonary or cystic fibrosis, obesity,  heart failure, CAD, Hypertension, Sickle Cell or thalassemia, diabetes, stroke, dementia, liver disease or immunocompromising conditions.

Phase 1c is set to begin in March, 2021 and includes around 650,000 individuals.

Phase 2a

Phase 2a is set to being in the second quarter of the year (April-June). This phase includes those who work in social services, commercial agriculture and food production, corrections staff and public transit.

Phase 2b

Beginning in Q2/Q3 is Phase 2b, which includes other critical infrastructure workers in transportation, public infrastructure, telecommunications and utilities/energy industries.

There are around 200,000 individuals in Phases 2a and 2b combined.

Phase 3

Finally, in Q3/Q4, Phase 3 includes grocery store workers as well as those in corrections or other congregate living facilities.

There are approximately 400,000 Tennesseans in this group.

After Phase 3 is complete, anyone not already vaccinated will be eligible.