# Why categories 1a, 1b...? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [March 6, 2021, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360 "2021-03-06T21:39:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2021, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360/1 "2021-03-06T21:39:51Z")
Does anyone have any idea why the vaccine categories are designated as they are? 1a, 1b, 1bI, etc. Why not 1, 2, 3? or A, B, C? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2021, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360/2 "2021-03-06T21:48:58Z")
For the same reason that condoms don’t come in “small”? Category 1c makes you seem more important than Category 3. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2021, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360/3 "2021-03-06T22:16:05Z")
They made a list of people that need to be vaccinated before anyone else. _health care personnel, long-term care facility residents, persons aged ≥75 years, non–health care frontline essential workers, persons aged 65–74 years, persons aged 16–64 years with high-risk medical conditions, essential workers not already vaccinated_ Then they divided _that_ group, Phase 1, into the groups that can’t wait and those that can wait. Which becomes _PHASE 1A health care personnel and long-term care facility residents_ if we still have vaccine available then _PHASE 1B persons aged ≥75 years and non–health care frontline essential workers_ persons aged 65–74 years if we still have vaccine available then _PHASE 1C persons aged 16–64 years with high-risk medical conditions and essential workers not already vaccinated_ One would assume if we still have vaccine available then _PHASE 2_ which depending on vaccine availability might also get broken down into groups A, B, C, etc. In a word, this is triage. > **[The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ Interim...](https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm695152e2.htm)** > > This report describes updated interim vaccine allocation... ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2021, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360/4 "2021-03-06T22:58:37Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > In a word, this is triage. Not trying to be a smartass. I understand the concept of triage, but I do not see why 1a, 1b, 1c, 2, is a better system than 1, 2, 3, 4. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2021, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360/5 "2021-03-06T23:16:05Z")
Why is 1, 2, 3, 4 a better system than 1a, 1b, 1c, 2? (Given the assumption that they weren’t planning to divide Phase 1 in the first place or having a Phase 3.) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2021, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360/6 "2021-03-06T23:36:59Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Not trying to be a smartass. I understand the concept of triage, but I do not see why 1a, 1b, 1c, 2, is a better system than 1, 2, 3, 4. Because it is more urgent to vaccinate people in group 1a because they are at higher risk than the rest of those in that category. The next most urgent is 1b, then 1c. All are more urgent than 2. It allows differentiation within the most urgent group. These are relatively small groups too. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2021, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360/7 "2021-03-06T23:58:41Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > For the same reason that condoms don’t come in “small”? > Category 1c makes you seem more important than Category 3. > [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > They made a list of people that need to be vaccinated before anyone else. > _health care personnel, long-term care facility residents, persons aged ≥75 years, non–health care frontline essential workers, persons aged 65–74 years, persons aged 16–64 years with high-risk medical conditions, essential workers not already vaccinated_ > > Then they divided _that_ group, Phase 1, into the groups that can’t wait and those that can wait. > > Which becomes > _PHASE 1A > health care personnel and long-term care facility residents_ > if we still have vaccine available then > > _PHASE 1B_ Both very good answers. Covered it thoroughly. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2021, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360/8 "2021-03-07T12:45:27Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Not trying to be a smartass. I understand the concept of triage […] I’m not sure I understand the concept. Originally I heard it was a sorting into three groups: won’t survive, will survive with care, will survive with or without care. Three. The idea was to make sure the middle category gets the care that dictates survival. But it soon was used in hospital ERs to describe an initial intake for the purpose of prioritizing patients, not specific to three categories. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of triage being applied to refusing to see patients in modern usage. So, there’s still the unanswered question of what the “three-ness” is about here, and why there’s two tiers of organization to quantify what is in effect a single degree of freedom. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2021, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360/9 "2021-03-07T12:58:33Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Why is 1, 2, 3, 4 a better system than 1a, 1b, 1c, 2? > (Given the assumption that they weren’t planning to divide Phase 1 in the first place or having a Phase 3.) I would argue that 1a, 1b, 1c 2 (cut into letters) 3 (everyone else) Is better than a single list because it emphasizes that all of group 1 really needs to be ahead of group 2. It also let’s them muck with the details of cutting up group 2 without creating confusion elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2021, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360/10 "2021-03-07T13:03:18Z")
But you could also say that everyone in groups 1a and 1b needs to be ahead of everyone in groups 1c and 2. And if 2 gets subdivided into letters, then you could likewise say that everyone in groups 1 and 2a needs to be ahead of 2b and beyond. The full extent of the structure here is a simple ordering, and the natural labeling to use for a simple ordering is just numbers. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2021, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360/11 "2021-03-07T15:49:16Z")
But the gap between 1(anything) and 2(anything) is larger than that between 1a and 1b. And if tptb decide to fiddle with the exact ordering within group 1, it doesn’t affect group 2, or confuse many people. It seems obvious to me that these categories are hierarchical. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2021, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360/12 "2021-03-07T15:55:39Z")
During WWII, the need for some materials such as aluminum ramped up dramatically and the government set up a system of priorities A, B, C, to determine which manufacturer got priority. Oops, there were some manufacturers who had to be put ahead of A. So they created priority AA. Oops, there were…so they created priority AAA. Eventually, the system collapsed. (Source: Washington Goes to War by David Brinkley) A two digit system makes it easier to adjust when creating new categories. For example, “caregivers” are now a thing in some areas. So, if these people are placed in Category 1, but not to be ahead of the current 1a-1c people, they can be assigned 1d. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2021, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360/13 "2021-03-07T16:07:28Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > But the gap between 1(anything) and 2(anything) is larger than that between 1a and 1b Only because they’ve been designed that way. If instead of 1a-3b the categories were 1-8 it’d show the same gaps between priority levels. So far people in this thread have mostly explained what the categories mean as they exist, not shown any added utility to breaking them down the way they have been. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2021, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360/14 "2021-03-07T16:20:51Z")
I think Group 1 is pretty consistent (Federal designation?), while the states have some leeway about the subcategories. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2021, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360/15 "2021-03-07T16:30:20Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > not shown any added utility to breaking them down the way they have been As I pointed out above (I was not joking) I think the principal utility for having a small number of tiers with subdivisions is psychological. It makes people _feel_ more prioritized than they really are. 1c? Great, I’m part of the first tier! (actually you are in the third) 3? That’s bronze medal position, at least I’m not in tier 8. (actually you are in tier 8) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2021, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360/16 "2021-03-07T16:37:41Z")
That’s kind of how felt, that “group 2” psychologically sounds better than “group 8.” I asked my wife the same question after I got my shot last week, and I guess we decided that it designated a priority group vs non-priority group (2), but it immediately reminded me of this SNL skit on airline boarding groups: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DptGBVPnvKE/maxresdefault.jpg "The Boarding of Flight 314 - SNL") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DptGBVPnvKE) ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2021, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360/17 "2021-03-07T17:26:32Z")
I don’t see any evidence that clever or deliberate marketing has really been a priority, ever. I think you are giving the powers that be way too much credit here. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2021, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360/18 "2021-03-07T17:54:13Z")
I don’t see why it has to be some deliberate marketing ploy. It just happened organically, because it’s natural psychology. It started out by aggregating far more categories of people as _nominally_ “most important” in tier 1 than would _really_ be deemed _most_ important and thus part of the actual first group to be vaccinated, which was a subset of tier 1. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2021, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360/19 "2021-03-07T18:54:14Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > As I pointed out above (I was not joking) I think the principal utility for having a small number of tiers with subdivisions is psychological. It makes people _feel_ more prioritized than they really are. Yes, exactly this. Add on to it that, at least here, as priorities have been shuffled around, people move up in number, but not down. Colorado originally had groups 1-4 or something. Then there was some shuffling, and some people moved up groups, but nobody moved down a designation. Now we only have groups 1 and 2, so all of those people in groups 3 and 4 moved up! What actually happened, is a bunch of people moved into group 1. That meant group 1 had to be divided into a and b and now those are subdivided into .1, .2, etc. Could they have just changed it to have groups 1-6? Sure, that would have been fine, but it would have meant people who used to be in group 4 are now in group 6, which looks bad. The other way to view it is as an outline: I. High priority A. Really high priority 1. Like the very most high priority 2. Not quite as high priority, but still really high B. Highest of the rest 1. Top of the rest 2. Next of the rest 3. More important than average, but can wait 4. Wait even more II. Everybody else ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2021, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360/20 "2021-03-07T19:26:35Z")
I would expect it was designed hierarchically because that is how the plan was developed. They first went high level, dividing people into 3 groups: those of high risk, medium risk, and low risk. Then, once they got that ironed out, they needed to who to prioritize within those groups, resulting in further subdivisions. And, in practice, it seems that, due to short supply, they sometimes needed to further subdivide. In my state, both 1A and 1B essentially had two parts, even though they were never actually given names. Health care workers came before nursing home patients for 1A, and the people in food manufacturing had to wait for the people over 65 and other healthcare workers. I think sorting into large groups and then subdividing is just easier for humans. The people making the divisions found it easier in the first place, and that it has a lower cognitive load for others. At least, it’s easier for me to think that way. My dad has a preexisting condition, so he’s in group 1. But he’s not in an at risk occupation, nor is he over 65. So he’s in group 1C. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-categories-1a-1b/937360.md?page=2)