The CDC’s COVID-19 vaccination distribution rolls out in stages prioritized according to age and risk. Frontline workers and vulnerable populations are first in line.
CDC’s Recommendation on Childcare Workers
The first stage, Phase 1A, vaccinated healthcare workers and long-term care facility residents.
Phase 1B is now underway across the country. It offers vaccinations to two groups of people: those aged 75 and over, along with frontline essential workers.
The CDC classifies frontline essential workers as firefighters, police officers, corrections officers, food and agricultural workers, USPS workers, manufacturing workers, grocery store employees, public transit workers, and those working in education such as teachers, support staff, and childcare workers.
Strangely, the directive to vaccinate childcare workers did not include private employees, such as nannies or others in domestic homes.
Under the CDC’s recommendations, childcare workers are specified as licensed childcare providers in care centers or daycares. Those in private homes are not considered.
In Phase 1C, the CDC recommends vaccinations for anyone aged 65-74, people aged 16-64 with high-risk medical conditions, and essential workers not included in Phase 1A or 1B.
The CDC considers Phase 1C essential workers to be those working in transportation, utilities, food service, construction, finance, IT, legal, public safety, and public health.
Nannies, babysitters, and other employees working in private domestic homes are once again left out.
Dara Green, CEO of Seaside Staffing, comments that “Nannies are also childcare providers, I only see the difference in being that they are in a private household, and not a school with ratios. However, they are also exposed if the parents are going to work and being exposed to colleagues, and then they come back to the house where the nanny could contract COVID-19.”
Childcare providers are unable to socially distance, leaving them at high risk for COVID-19 infection. Despite this, the federal government has made no provisions for the many domestic nannies providing essential care.
Fortunately, CDC guidelines are only recommendations and not mandates. Each state is free to make its own plan. In California, the vaccine rollout protocol varies by county.
Los Angeles’ Current Stance on Nannies Getting Vaccinated
Los Angeles County is currently in vaccination Phases 1A and 1B.
LA County follows CDC guidelines restricting Phase 1B vaccinations to licensed and license-exempt childcare service providers.
Despite being home to many nannies, LA County makes no special provision for vaccinating these domestic workers. In fact, Los Angeles expressly rules out nannies, babysitters, and other private childcare givers as qualifying for priority vaccination.
Only childcare employees working in centers, daycares, Family Child Care Homes, schools, or providing subsidized care can be vaccinated at this time.
All other informal or private childcare providers are considered ineligible, until vaccines are widely available. Nannies who also work in licensed care centers can still get the vaccine under that grouping.
Nannies who work or live in LA and are eligible under other categories, can sign up at LA County’s appointment site.
LA County vaccinations are done at major point of dispensing sites, health clinics, pharmacies, some workplaces, senior housing, mobile vaccination units, care facilities, and special vaccination sites.
Los Angeles requires proof of identity, residence or employment in the county, and eligibility.
Los Angeles begins vaccinating Phase 1C on March 15th., which permits vaccinating people aged 16-64 with health conditions that make them high-risk for severe COVID.
Long Beach’s Current Stance on Nannies Getting Vaccinated
Long Beach County nannies can get vaccinated in Phase 1B, along with other education and childcare workers. Anyone who lives or works in Long Beach can be vaccinated there.
Long Beach is currently vaccinating phase 1A & 1B groups.
Nannies who want to be vaccinated, need to sign up with California’s new notification and appointment system, My Turn.
Long Beach COVID-19 vaccines are available through primary care providers, CVS, Ralphs, Rite Aid, Walgreens, and health department clinics.
Anyone being vaccinated in Long Beach County, needs to bring documentation with their name on it and show proof of eligibility.
This includes proof of current residence and/or employment within Long Beach.
Orange County’s Current Stance on Nannies Getting Vaccinated
The Orange County Phase 1B group may allow for nannies to be vaccinated.
Orange County follows the CDC’s guidelines for educators and childcare providers. However, it specifies that both formal and informal childcare providers are included.
Since their language is more permissive, nannies should take the opportunity to sign up on OC’s Othena platform.
Starting March 15th, OC also permits healthcare providers to vaccinate those from 16-64 who have high risk conditions. Anyone over 65 or with conditions like diabetes, heart conditions, or obesity are eligible under these categories.
OC is currently vaccinating Phase 1A, 1B, and those 65 and up.
At vaccination appointments, nannies need to bring appointment verification along with proof of identification, age, and residence or employment within OC.
There are no vaccinations without appointments in OC.
Nannies who live or work within OC, need to register online through the Othena vaccine scheduling platform. This will make it clear if they are eligible or not.
Pasadena’s current stance on nannies getting vaccinated
Pasadena’s vaccine supply is limited and more restricted. Only Pasadena residents in Phase 1A or Phase 1B groups are currently eligible.
Pasadena firmly excludes private nannies from its Phase 1B group. It only considers childcare center and education workers as essential providers.
Nannies are not included or mentioned in any of its priority groups.
Unlike other counties, Pasadena does not include those with high-risk health conditions in Phase 1B.
Pasadena’s 1B group only includes those 65 and up, traditional education and childcare center workers, food and agriculture employees, and emergency services.
Everyone else has to wait.
Any nannies residing in Pasadena, who are currently eligible or have pressing high risk concerns need to contact their healthcare provider or local pharmacist.
The vaccine will be given out at primary care offices, pharmacies, certain workplaces, and public health clinics.
Under official CDC recommendations, nannies and babysitters do not qualify for priority COVID-19 vaccination in any phase.
Unless local health departments make special exemptions, these domestic workers are left vulnerable.
Have any questions? Contact us here.
References
- https://COVID19.ca.gov/vaccines/?utm_source=AP
- http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/vaccine/index.htm
- https://lacounty.gov/
- http://longbeach.gov/health/diseases-and-condition/information-on/coronavirus/vaxlb/
- https://ocCOVID19.ochealthinfo.com/COVID-19-vaccination-distribution
- https://www.cityofpasadena.net/public-health/COVID-19-vaccine/#education-childcare-center-workers
- https://laist.com/2021/02/26/child-care-providers-COVID-19-vaccine-los-angeles-orange-county-long-beach-pasadena.php
- https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm695152e2.htm
- https://ocCOVID19.ochealthinfo.com/COVID-19-vaccine-resources
- https://coronavirus.egovoc.com/COVID-19-vaccination-distribution
- https://ocCOVID19.ochealthinfo.com/othena-faqs
- https://www.cityofpasadena.net/public-health/COVID-19-vaccine/#vaccine-allocation-phases