The Albany and Wyoming Department of Health Departments are working with an extensive network of public health and healthcare provider partners to make the most of authorized safe and effective vaccines meant to help prevent COVID-19. Please stay up-to-date with latest COVID vaccine information by visiting our site regularly.
Key Information
Who is eligible to receive a COVID Vaccine, at this time, in Albany County?
- All healthcare providers and individuals listed in the Phase 1a subgroups are eligible to receive a vaccine at this time. If you believe you are in Phase 1a and have not yet received your 1st dose of vaccine, please call the Albany County COVID Vaccine Call Center at 307-766-8222. The Call Center will go live on January 26th at 9 a.m.
- We will be progressing into Phase 1b: Priority Groups 1-3 during the week of January 25, 2021.
- Phase 1b, Priority Group 1: Fire, police, 911, correctional staff, search and rescue, and other in-person emergency response personnel not included in Phase 1a (including ancillary support for air ambulance and hospitals and Department of Family Services case workers)
- Phase 1b, Priority Group 2: Funeral service practitioners and in-person employees necessary for funerals
- Phase 1b, Priority Group 3: People who are 80 years of age or older. (Due to the limited doses of vaccine, we will offer appointments to those 70-79 years of age at a later date as vaccine becomes available.)
How does one get on the list to receive a vaccine?
- Step 1: If you believe you are or will be eligible to receive a vaccine based on occupation, please have your employer click on this link and complete the form. If you are not eligible to receive the vaccine based on your occupation or if you do not know if your job makes you eligible, please go to Step 2.
- Step 2: You can prepare to receive your vaccine by registering online. To register and get on the "COVID vaccine list" click here . The information you provide will help our team determine what prioritization Phase you will be in. NOTE: Registering to get on the list does not necessarily qualify an individual for vaccine eligibility. You will be notified just prior to when your Priority Group is eligible to schedule a vaccine.
- Step 3: Please be patient until you have been notified that you are eligible to receive a vaccine. You will be notified directly and will be provided with instructions on how to schedule your vaccine appointment including where to go.
If you have difficulties completing Step 1 or 2, please dial 307-766-8222 and the Call Center support staff will be happy to assist you. NOTE: The Call Center will go live on January 26th at 9 a.m.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I get on the list to receive a COVID-19 vaccine?
A. Our partner, Ivinson Memorial Hospital, has recently establish an online registration form that you can complete to get on the list. Individuals will need to wait until their Priority Group is eligible to receive the vaccine. When that time comes, you will be notified directly and will receive instructions on how to schedule an appointment. We appreciate your patience as you wait for your Priority Group to be announced.
Q. How do I get on the “vaccine list” if I cannot use a computer or the internet?
A. Registering online is probably the quickest way to get on the vaccine list. However, if that option is not best for you, you can get on the list by calling 307-766-8222. Be aware, due to high demand, there may be wait times.
Q. What is the Vaccine Prioritization Schedule and who decides how the Priority Groups are organized?
A. The Vaccine Prioritization Schedule determines the order in which groups become eligible to receive a COVID vaccine. Although we feel it is important for everyone to receive a vaccine, it was necessary to create the Prioritization schedule due to the early limited supply of COVID vaccine.
The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) established the WDH Medical Ethics Committee, made up of professionals from a number of different areas, to discuss and make difficult decisions regarding COVID-19 and the vaccines. WDH is working with the WDH Medical Ethics Committee and is using the CDC and ACIP recommendations for priority groups, along with variables specific to Wyoming, to determine exactly what the priority groups will look like.
Q. Is my group on your priority list?
A. We wish there was enough COVID vaccine to offer it to all community members. However, early supplies of vaccines are quite limited. Initially, the priority was to vaccinate healthcare providers, law enforcement, and residents of long-term care facilities and assisted living facilities with our limited doses. We will provide ongoing information about priority groups as we move through the distribution. Please check this website regularly for updates.
Q. How will I know it is my turn to receive the COVID vaccine, and will I be contacted directly?
A. If you have registered to be placed on the “vaccine list”, then you will be directly notified when your Priority Group is eligible to receive the vaccine.
Q. Where do I get the vaccine?
A. When your priority group is eligible to receive the vaccine, you will be notified and instructions will be provided informing you where you will need to go to receive the vaccine.
Q. How many doses are you expecting and when?
A. Please visit https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/immunization/wyoming-covid-19-vaccine-information/ and click on the link about vaccine distribution.
Q. How long until the public can get this vaccine?
A. We don't have an exact timeframe at this point, but expect that it will be a matter of months.
Q. Can people with underlying conditions receive the vaccine early?
A. The order in which people with high risk conditions will be vaccinated is currently being updated as part of phases 1b/1c, which is being determined by the Wyoming Department of Health Medical Ethics Committee. Please check back for updates.
Q. How will you accomplish this big task?
A. Much of what is required are activities the WDH Immunization Unit, Public Health Nursing, County Health Departments and public vaccine providers already do. We have systems and processes in place that are used every day that we will also use for the pandemic vaccine distribution, administration, and reporting. We are collaborating with many local partners to make sure the vaccine gets to the right people at the right time.
Q. Why is it taking so long for our community to get vaccinated?
A. Although vaccine supply has been limited, we are very excited that we have been able to start getting people in our community vaccinated. We’ll be even happier, once there is enough vaccine to offer it to everyone. We’re taking some important steps toward ending this pandemic, but there are many steps to come and patience is important.
We want people to understand that administering doses of these vaccines is not as simple as it may seem. There are several unique challenges such as storage and timing requirements, limited early vaccine supply, and other complex issues that must be continuously planned for.
Recently, more vaccinators have been approved to administer vaccines in Albany County, and we expect our numbers to continue increasing as we move along. We would also remind people that it can take up to 72 hours for administered doses to be reported, which means more have likely been administered than our numbers will immediately show.
Q. Will all counties proceed through the priority groups at the same time?
A. No, they will not. Each county faces unique challenges and there are many factors that contribute to each county’s progress. Some counties received vaccine earlier than other counties. Furthermore, counties that have more vaccine-eligible individuals that opt to get the vaccine may progress through the Priority Groups less quickly due to demand during a time that there is limited vaccine supply.
Q. Is the vaccine safe?
A. We would not recommend and distribute a vaccine without being assured it is safe. We understand some people may have questions about these or any vaccines. COVID-19 vaccines, like other vaccines, are being held to high standards to make sure they are safe. Safety is a top priority along with effectiveness, and there are many reasons to get vaccinated.
Q. Will the vaccine be free?
A. Yes, getting vaccinated will be free. People receiving the vaccine will not be charged any fees. Providers will be able to bill insurances for administration costs and to seek reimbursement for vaccination of uninsured individuals.
Q. What are the side effects of this vaccine?
A. Side effects may include redness, soreness, and mild swelling around the injection site, and you may notice feeling tired, achy, run a fever, and have a headache. Should these symptoms occur, one can be treated with an over-the-counter pain reliever and symptoms should go away within a day or two. Symptoms like this are normal and tell us our body is building immunity. You can also apply a cool compress to the injection site and moving your arm frequently can help with the soreness. If your symptoms worsen or do not improve after a couple of days, please contact your primary care provider.
Q. How effective is the vaccine?
A. Clinical trials have shown the vaccines may be 94 to 95 percent effective after the second dose in preventing COVID-19 for those who have been vaccinated.
Q. Will the vaccine be mandatory?
A. Private employers may choose to require the vaccine for their employees, but currently there is no Federal or State requirement that people receive the vaccine. There are also no State plans to require this vaccine.
Q. Is there any documentation that will be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
A. An individual may be requested to provide identification prior to receiving the vaccine.
Q. If I'm vaccinated, is it okay to stop wearing a mask?
A. Not yet. Wearing a mask and other safety measures such as social distancing, avoiding large groups, and good hand washing should still be used, regardless of whether or not you have been vaccinated.
Q. If I am currently positive for COVID can I still get the vaccine?
A. The current recommendations are that a person should not receive the vaccine while symptomatic; a vaccine is recommended once a person is out of isolation/quarantine and has recovered from illness.
Q. If a person is under quarantine can they still receive the vaccine?
A. Yes, as long as they do not currently have COVID symptoms. However, receiving the vaccine will not remove the need for isolation or quarantine.
Q. If people turn down the vaccine, what happens to these doses?
A. We are not going to waste doses of this important resource. Whatever is not used, will be administered to individuals in subsequent Priority Groups.
Distribution & Updates
- 1/22/21
This week, Albany County is offering vaccine to all individuals from Phase 1a. Next week we will be progressing into Phase 1b: Priorities 1 and 2. For information on the current prioritization schedule for Wyoming please click here. - 1/22/21
Wyoming Distribution:
First Vaccine Doses Received: 48,575
First Vaccine Doses Administered: 31,315Second Vaccine Doses Received: 18,000
Second Vaccine Doses Administered: 4,661
(Counts do not include federal program for some long-term care facilities or federal doses provided directly for tribal, VA and military facilities. Reported administered doses may be up to 72 hours behind actual doses administered.) - 1/13/21
This week, Albany County is vaccinating individuals from the Phase 1a: Priority Groups 10-14. We have started contacting those in Phase 1a: Priorities 15-17, whom will be receiving vaccines the week of 1/18/21. For information on the current prioritization schedule for Wyoming please click here.
- 1/11/21
First Vaccine Doses Received: 25,775 (8,775 Pfizer/17,000 Moderna)
First Vaccine Doses Administered: 14,257Second Vaccine Doses Received: 6,825 (6,825 Pfizer)
Second Vaccine Doses Administered: 2,145
(Counts do not include federal program for some long-term care facilities or federal doses provided directly for tribal, VA and military facilities. Reported administered doses may be up to 72 hours behind actual doses administered.)
