Californians under the age of 65 who have disabilities or serious health conditions will be eligible for inoculation against the coronavirus from March 15, state officials said on Friday, responding to outrage over a recent change aimed at accelerating the slow release of vaccines in the state.
California had been distributing vaccines in layers, prioritizing people with high-risk medical conditions over healthy adults and certain essential workers above others, but changed course in late January after the complexity of its system seemed to be decreasing. distribution. Under the new system, the many categories have been replaced by age-based levels.
But as people with chronic illnesses and disabilities were displaced in line by people aged 65 and over, the change generated widespread anger and confusion. Bay area activists accused Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration of mistreatment and criticized the governor on Twitter with the hashtag #HighRiskCA. California now joins a handful of states that offer eligibility for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities or people with underlying health problems.
The adjustment will extend Covid-19 vaccinations to people over 16 who are debilitated or immunocompromised by cancer or organ transplantation. It will also include women who are pregnant or suffering from chronic lung disease, Down syndrome, sickle cell disease, heart disease, severe obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease stage 4 or higher, and those whose life or continuous care is otherwise likely to is threatened by Covid-19.
“I want the disabled community to know, we listen to you, and we will do more and better to provide access, even with the shortage” of vaccines, Governor Newsom said on Friday, visiting a mass vaccination center in São Paulo. Francisco Moscone Center.