Tennessee Vaccine Phases | TN COVID-19 Hub

Vaccines are available in all 95 counties and administered based upon individual risk and the phases outlined below. Phases will vary by county based on vaccine supply and uptake.

Additional information regarding the vaccines can be found here. Tennesseans are encouraged to discuss with their doctor if the vaccine is right for them.

Phase 1a1

Frontline Healthcare Workers and Dependent Disabled Adults

Hospital/free-standing emergency department staff with direct patient exposure and/or exposure to potentially infectious materials
Home health care staff
COVID-19 mass testing site staff (includes drive-through mass testing. Does not include people who work in clinics where testing is performed)
Student health providers in a school, college, or university
Staff and Residents of LTCF (Live in a Long-term Care Facility, Assisted Living Center, Home for the Aged, Home for People living with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities, or receive care in a group home)
Skilled nursing facilities, assisted living centers, homes for the aged, DIDD residential centers, group homes

First responders with direct public exposure (front-line law enforcement, fire fighters, emergency medical services, mental health crisis response, rescue squads, frontline corrections officers and jailers, Department of Children’s Services transportation officers, secure residential facility staff serving delinquent youth. Does not include dispatchers and administrative staff)
Individuals 18 years or older who cannot live independently due to a serious chronic medical condition or intellectual or developmental disability
16-17 years old and considered medically fragile (such as technologically-dependent individuals, immunocompromised individuals, individuals with diabetes requiring medication, individuals with complex congenital or life-threatening cardiac conditions requiring ongoing medical management, individuals qualifying for a Katie Beckett waiver)

Phase 1a2

Outpatient Healthcare Workers with Direct Patient Exposure

Primary care providers and staff
Outpatient specialty providers and staff working with acute patients
Pharmacists and staff
Patient transport
Outpatient therapists
Urgent visit center providers and staff

Environmental services
Oral health providers
Behavioral health providers
Outpatient laboratory staff working with COVID-19 specimens
Funeral/mortuary workers with direct decedent contact

Phase 1b

K-12, Child Care and Other First Responders

K-12, child care teachers and staff
Pre-school
Airfield Operations Personnel

Other first responders staff and administration (administrative staff, dispatchers, communications staff, other first responders without significant direct public contact)

Phase 1c

Tennesseans 16 Years Old or Older with High-Risk Health Conditions

Caregivers (or household residents) of medically fragile children <16 years old (such as technologically dependent individuals, immunocompromised individuals, individuals with diabetes requiring medication, individuals with complex congenital or life-threatening cardiac conditions requiring ongoing medical management, individuals qualifying for a Katie Beckett waiver)
Chronic renal disease
COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis, moderate-severe asthma
Obesity (BMI >30)
Heart failure, CAD, cardiomyopathies, hypertension
Sickle cell (not including sickle cell trait) or thalassemia

Cerebrovascular disease or stroke
Dementia
Liver disease
Immunocompromised or weak immune system (receiving chemotherapy, taking daily oral steroid or other immunosuppressant medication, living with HIV/AIDS, history of organ, blood or bone marrow transplant)
Technologically dependent (such as individuals who are ventilator dependent, oxygen-dependent, with tracheostomy, chronically wheelchair-bound, require tube feedings, parenteral nutrition, or dialysis)
Pregnancy (NOTE: The CDC and World Health Organization have advised that pregnancy puts women at higher risk of severe illness due to COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines have not been studied in pregnant women, and women who are pregnant are encouraged to discuss this decision with their medical provider.)

Phase 2a

Tennesseans Employed in the Following Critical Infrastructure Industries

Social Services (DCS) (includes child welfare agency personnel with direct public exposure)
Commercial agriculture
Commercial food production

Corrections staff not included in 1a1 (includes administrative staff, those without regular public/inmate contact)
Public transit

Phase 2b

Tennesseans Employed in the Following Critical Infrastructure Industries

Transportation (including postal and package delivery, freight railroad, maritime cargo, commercial or cargo service airports)
Public infrastructure (includes dams, roads, locks, and bridge maintenance and engineering, solid waste collection, and processing)

Telecommunications (includes those providing direct services)
Utilities/Energy (includes line workers and other maintenance and engineering personnel involved in direct provision of services)

Phase 3

Tennesseans in Other High-Risk Settings

Individuals in congregate living facilities (includes those living and working in shelters, college dormitories, other settings where individuals are capable of independent living)

Grocery workers
Corrections (includes those housed in detention centers, prisons, and jails)

Age-Based Phases

In addition to the phases prioritized by infrastructure and high-risk health conditions, Tennesseans are eligible for vaccines based solely on their age. These age-based phases will run simultaneously with phases prioritized by infrastructure and high-risk health conditions. Phases are determined by supply and uptake in each county.

Age Group
75 years or older
70 years or older
65 years or older
55 years or older
45 years or older
35 years or older
25 years or older
16 years or older

COVID-19 Vaccine Questions

It is natural to have questions about the rollout of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. This page answers some frequently asked questions about the vaccines.

Learn More

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COVID-19 Vaccine Phases

County Vaccine Information & Appointments

COVID-19 Vaccine Questions