Key populations for early COVID-19 immunization: preliminary guidance for policy

KEY POINTS

• Immunization with a safe and effective vaccine could hasten control of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and minimize morbidity, death and societal disruption that have resulted from it.
• Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has developed preliminary recommendations for the efficient, effective and equitable allocation of safe, efficacious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine(s) in the context of staggered arrival of vaccines.
• Key populations for early vaccination include those at high risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19; those most likely to transmit COVID-19 to those at high risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 and workers essential to maintaining the COVID-19 response; those contributing to the maintenance of other essential services for the functioning of society; and those whose living or working conditions put them at elevated risk of infection and where infection could have disproportionate consequences, including Indigenous communities.
• Sequencing of key populations will be determined once more information about SARS-CoV-2 vaccine(s) becomes available; integration of equity, feasibility and acceptability considerations across all populations is critical for decisions regarding a COVID-19 immunization program.
• Transparent, clear communication about SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and vaccine allocation decisions to the public and health care providers is important to establish and maintain trust and confidence, and improve access to vaccines.