KEY POINTS

• COVID-19 vaccination is going to be resource-intensive, likely beyond what most
  jurisdictions currently have available.
• Public confidence in the vaccine among the highest concerns for jurisdictions.
• Clear and transparent communication from CDC to jurisdictions is critical; information
  gaps challenge planning.
• Vaccine allocation should consider the critical populations jurisdictions expect to
  vaccinate and not be simply based on population.

CDC puts out COVID-19 Vaccination Program
Interim Playbook for Jurisdiction Operations

Immunization with a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is a critical component of the United States strategy to reduce COVID-19-related illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths and to help restore societal functioning. The goal of the U.S. government is to have enough COVID-19 vaccine for all people in the United States who wish to be vaccinated.

Early in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program, there may be a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine, and vaccination efforts may focus on those critical to the response, providing direct care, and maintaining societal function, as well as those at highest risk for developing severe illness from COVID-19.

The COVID-19 Vaccination Program Interim Playbook for state, territorial (including the US-affiliated Pacific Islands [USAPI] of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau), and local public health programs and their partners details how to plan and operationalize a vaccination response to COVID-19 within their jurisdictions.

The document’s sections cover specific areas of COVID-19 vaccination program planning and implementation and provide key guidance documents and links to resources to assist those efforts. Many, but not all, of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program activities described may overlap with routine activities; routine immunization and pandemic influenza program activities can serve as a foundation for COVID-19 vaccination planning.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Immunization and Vaccines for Children Cooperative Agreement funding recipients (i.e., “awardees”) should use this document to develop their COVID-19 vaccination plans. Within their vaccination plans, awardees must address all requirements outlined in the playbook and clearly describe their responsibility for ensuring activities are implemented. Awardees should submit their plans to their CDC project officer by October 16, 2020.

Community-based organizations should contact their jurisdiction to discuss possible partnerships ASAP.