In an effort to increase the number of eligible Arkansans getting vaccinated, Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday announced that Phase 1-C of the state's covid-19 vaccination plan is now open.
Among the many qualifying groups in this phase are those who are incarcerated or are living in group homes, congregant settings, crowded housing and student housing such as dormitories and Greek housing.
That was welcome news to Elbert Bennett, vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
"That's what I wanted to hear from the onset," Bennett said. "The sooner we can get the students vaccinated, it's going to go a long way toward curbing the virus. College kids want to be able to get to some sort of normalcy. We're excited to be able to get the vaccine. We've done really well. We test every week. We test a couple hundred students every week. Our [positive-rate] numbers are real low."
Other people eligible in Phase 1-C include those who are ages 16-64 with health conditions that increase their risk for severe covid-19, as well as essential workers in energy, finance, food service, information technology and communications, the legal field, the media, public health/human services, public safety, shelter and housing, and transportation and logistics.
UAPB on Monday vaccinated those who participate in work-study programs or work in residential halls, Bennett said, but the vaccination plan has not yet opened to the general student population. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was used.
Bennett said he has been waiting for residential students to become eligible since the beginning of Arkansas' phased vaccine rollout.
"Our kids start spring break at 5 p.m. Friday," Bennett said. "We're trying to put a plan together on how to roll this out as soon as they get back. Our disappointment is that we couldn't get shots before spring break."
Bennett said the university plans to test students for covid-19 on March 29 and 30 and on April 1. Testing is not mandatory.
Bennett noted that many of the residential students are student-athletes who will remain on campus during spring break. Along with the traditional spring-sports teams like baseball, softball and track and field, UAPB is also competing in football, women's volleyball and women's soccer as those seasons were postponed due to the covid-19 pandemic.
"The main thing is, we sent out a notice to see how many want to stay on campus," Bennett said. "We have 780 kids in residential halls during the spring semester. That includes members of the football team, track, softball, baseball. We have some spirit team members. We're going to be playing during spring break. We've been trying to entice those students to stay for spring break. We're telling them, 'We're going to need your participation for these events.'"
Opening up Phase 1-C allows Arkansas to take another step toward making everyone eligible to get vaccinated by May 1, as President Joe Biden directed last week. It also gives the state an opportunity to improve its vaccination rate.
Of the 1,499,580 doses Arkansas has received, 863,880 have been administered, for a rate of 57.6%. State Health Secretary Dr. Jose Romero said at the governor's weekly news conference Tuesday that somewhere between 70% and 90% percent of the eligible population is needed for Arkansas to achieve herd immunity.
"What is going to get us through this pandemic are the vaccines, more than anything else," Romero said. "Those vaccines are becoming more and more available throughout the state. We are targeting areas where there is some reluctance with education."
The Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are "equally effective" in preventing death and hospitalizations, Romero said, adding that information is most important for residents who still have not decided to be immunized.
In Pine Bluff, a long line formed outside Doctor's Orders Pharmacy on 28th Avenue on Tuesday morning, including those 65 and older, essential government workers and manufacturing employees, among others, who are eligible under Phase 1-B. Pharmacy owner Lelan Stice said Doctor's Orders receives 2,000 doses per week, and he would possibly open another location if more doses were to be shipped. Doctor's Orders can handle 3,000 to 3,500 doses per week, he estimated.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson, meanwhile, called for patience among Arkansans who want to get vaccinated.
"I would remind everyone that just because we're opening it up to 1-C category does not mean you're going to be able to get an appointment this week or perhaps even next week, because there's almost a million people in this category," Hutchinson said. "We still have not fully completed 1-B in all areas of the state. ... Call for an appointment. It might be a while before you get that appointment. Be patient, understanding we have that backlog, but we want to have that open to you."