OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Gov. Pete Ricketts on Friday defended the state’s decision to prioritize the elderly for coronavirus vaccination shots over people with underlying health conditions, noting that most Nebraska residents who have died so far were at least 65 years old.
Ricketts made the comments after his administration amended its coronavirus vaccination plan earlier this week.
People who have cancer, diabetes and other major health problems were previously eligible in the current phase of the state’s vaccination plan, but they were removed from their spot on the list so health officials could focus on older residents. Essential workers such as first responders, teachers and corrections employees also qualify, but state officials have ordered local public health districts and pharmacies to give at least 90% of their available doses to senior citizens.
Approximately 82% of the 2,043 people who have died from the virus in Nebraska were at least 65 years old, according to the state’s online tracking portal. When people who are at least 55 years old are included in that group, the percentage jumps to 93%.
“When you look at the data, the single biggest correlation is age,” Ricketts said at a news conference.
Age isn’t the only risk factor, however, and people with underlying health conditions were originally placed on the list out of concern that they were more vulnerable than younger, healthier residents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that people with ailments such as cancer, chronic kidney disease, heart disease or who are obese are at greater risk of getting severely ill.
Ricketts said officials are focusing on seniors to try to prevent as many deaths as possible, and giving too many of the state’s limited doses to others is a “less efficient” approach.
State officials said earlier this week that they expect vaccines will be available to the general public in Nebraska by late April or early May.
Nebraska has confirmed 198,442 virus cases since the pandemic began, and 185 people are currently hospitalized - a decline from the nearly 1,000 who were in hospital care in mid-November.
The state is expected to get more vaccine doses from drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna next week, after severe cold weather throughout the Midwest and Texas delayed some shipments.
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