On February 12, the California Department of Public Health announced that health professionals will soon be able to vaccinate people between the ages of 16 and 64 who suffer from various health problems. This decree, which goes into effect on March 15, will add several million people to the number of people eligible for vaccines in California.
– Cancer, current with weakened or immunocompromised status
– Chronic kidney disease, stage 4 or higher
– Chronic lung disease, oxygen dependent
– Down’s syndrome
– Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) due to solid organ transplantation
– Pregnancy
– Sickle cell anemia
– Heart problems, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies (excludes hypertension)
– Severe obesity (body mass index ≥ 40 kg / m2)
– Type 2 diabetes mellitus with hemoglobin A1c level greater than 7.5%
In addition to these conditions, the CDPH says that others may qualify for vaccines if, as a result of a developmental disability or other serious, high-risk disability, one or more of the following apply
– The individual is likely to develop serious life-threatening illness or death from COVID-19 infection
– The acquisition of COVID-19 will limit an individual’s ability to receive continuous care or services vital to their well-being and survival
– Providing adequate and timely COVID care will be particularly challenging as a result of the individual’s disability
Although the list includes many serious conditions, there are several life-threatening conditions that are not on the list, although, as Mercury News points out, they are related to worse outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Among those not included are: cystic fibrosis, dementia, hypertension, type 1 diabetes and some rare genetic diseases.
The state announcement expands the groups that have already been approved to vaccinate against COVID-19. Those in Phase 1A – health workers and long-term residents – and Phase 1B – individuals aged 65 and over, workers in education and daycare, emergency services, agriculture and food have already been approved.