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Starting Monday, millions of Californians with pre-existing health conditions as well as disabilities will be eligible to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine.
However, with a shortage of supplies, getting a photo could be difficult.
Here’s what you need to know:
Who is eligible?
People aged 16 to 64 may be eligible if they considered to present the highest risk be very sick with COVID-19.
The high risk group includes 10 categories: people with cancer; stage 4 or higher chronic kidney disease; chronic lung disease; Down’s syndrome; weakened immune system by solid organ transplantation; pregnancy; sickle cell anemia; heart disease such as heart failure, coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathies (excluding hypertension); severe obesity; and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
With population estimates for the group at around 4.4. million and with other eligible groups totaling some 13 million, nearly half of all Californians will now be eligible for a vaccine.
The state also offered specific examples of people who may be eligible but are not explicitly listed on Thursday.
These include people who use regional centers, independent living centers, home support services, adult community services, Medi-Cal HIV / AIDS waivers, Medi-Cal home alternatives waivers. and community, Medi-Cal Assisted Living Waivers, All Inclusive Care Programs for Seniors, California Child Services Programs if client is 16 to 21, and California Programs for Seniors genetically disabled.
How can I get vaccinated?
Officials are urging residents to work with their health care providers to get vaccinated as a first step.
“Check with your regular healthcare professional first to see if they have any vaccines and appointments available. Healthcare providers who have vaccines may also begin to contact you, as a patient with significant and high-risk illness or disability known to the provider, to schedule your vaccine appointment ” , the state said.
Other options include local pharmacies, local health departments, community pop-up clinics, or using the My Turn website. Access details:
- Online at myturn.ca.gov. The MyTurn site is accessible to people with disabilities and in eight languages: English, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean and Japanese.
- Call the COVID-19 hotline at (833) 422-4255 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday or 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday to Sunday.
Do I have to prove that I am eligible?
The state said people will not be required to prove they have a disability or health problems when getting vaccinated. Instead, eligible individuals will be required to sign a self-attestation confirming that they meet the criteria.
“To protect confidentiality, documentation verifying the diagnosis or type of disability is not required, but instead anyone who meets the eligibility requirements will be asked to sign a self-attestation that they meet the criteria. high-risk medical conditions or disability, ”says the state.
Disability rights advocates had been pushing for a process that would not create unnecessary obstacles, especially for those who are less mobile or have intellectual disabilities, caused by problems with the vaccine line skipping.
What if I can’t get there on my own?
The state says all vaccination sites should be accessible to people with disabilities.
For transportation assistance, authorities suggest calling your local health care provider, health department, or pharmacy.
“If you are receiving Medi-Cal through a managed care plan, contact your plan’s member services department to request transportation assistance to qualify for covered benefits,” the state said in its newsletter. “If you receive Medi-Cal through Fee-for-Service (FFS), you can access a list of Non-Medical Transportation (NMT) providers in your county and you can contact them directly to arrange transportation to your appointments. -you. If there isn’t a provider in your area, the California Department of Health Services (DHCS) can help if you email them [email protected]. “
Is there a list of eligible conditions?
The California Department of Public Health proposed this breakdown:
- Cancer, common with a weakened immune system
- Chronic kidney disease, stage 4 or above
- Chronic lung disease, dependent on oxygen
- Down syndrome
- Strong organ transplant, leading to a weakened immune system
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell anemia
- Heart disease, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies (but not hypertension)
- Severe obesity (body mass index ≥ 40 kg / m2)
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus with hemoglobin A1c greater than 7.5%
- COVID-19 infection has the potential to cause serious, life-threatening illness or death; OR
- The acquisition of COVID-19 will limit an individual’s ability to receive continuing care or services vital to their well-being and survival; OR
- Providing adequate and timely COVID care will be particularly difficult due to the individual’s disability.
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