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California opens COVID-19 vaccines to a new group on Monday: people aged 16 to 64 with disabilities or with eligible health conditions that put them at increased risk of serious illness or death if infected.
The state estimates that 4.4 million people fall into this category, but due to the limited supply of vaccines, not everyone will be able to get immunized immediately.
People with one of the following 10 conditions deemed “serious” by the state are eligible: cancer; stage 4 or higher chronic kidney disease; chronic lung disease; Down’s syndrome; weakened immune system due to a solid organ transplant; pregnancy; sickle cell anemia; heart disease, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies (but not hypertension); severe obesity; and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
People with disabilities are also eligible, and the state has provided many examples of people who fall into this category, including people who use regional centers, independent living centers, home support services, health centers. adult day health, Medi-Cal waivers for HIV / AIDS. and exemptions for Medi-Cal Home and Community-Based Alternatives, Medi-Cal Assisted Living Exemptions, California Children’s Services Program (if the child is 16 at age 21) and the California Genetically Disabled People’s Program.
The California Department of Public Health released guidance on Thursday and said people with these high-risk conditions or disabilities will not be required to provide documents to verify their diagnosis to get the vaccine, but they may be invited. to sign a self-attestation that they satisfy. the criterion.
The state recommended that eligible people start by contacting their health care providers.
“We strongly recommend that people with these conditions get vaccinated through a primary health care provider or system, or other clinical setting,” the state said. “Check with your regular health care provider first to see if they have any vaccines and if they have any appointments available. Health care providers who have vaccines may also start contacting you, as a patient with a severe and high-risk illness or disability known to the provider, to schedule your vaccine appointment. “
The state said pharmacies, county health departments, and the community pop-up clinic can also set up appointments for vaccines for people with disabilities and health concerns, but some may focus on injections. to other groups such as education workers.
San Francisco officials said on Friday they were expanding the state’s definition of qualifying medical conditions, including allowing people living with HIV to be vaccinated starting March 15. sensory or behavioral health disorders, including serious mental disorders and substance use disorders.
The city has warned that despite expanding eligibility, the vaccine remains scarce.
“Next week we will move forward with expanding access to vaccines in San Francisco and we will continue to work with accessibility advocates and community members to ensure that we do our best to reach all eligible, “said the Mayor of London Breed in” While the supply is still not at the level we need, we continue to make good progress and we will continue to do our best to getting vaccines to people as quickly and easily as possible. “
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