California Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Mark Ghaly, announced on Friday that millions of young Californians with disabilities and underlying health problems that put them at risk for serious COVID infections will become eligible for vaccination from March, 15.
San Francisco had already talked about giving vaccines to people with serious underlying health conditions in Phase 1C, with Phase 1B starting on February 24th. But now the state has approved the distribution of vaccines to a wide range of the population in just one month, at the discretion of healthcare providers.
Eligibility will open on March 15 for people aged 16 to 64 with various disabilities and people with cancer, chronic kidney disease in stage 4 or higher, chronic lung disease, Down syndrome, weakened immune system by a solid organ transplant, sickle cell disease, pregnancy, heart problems, severe obesity – with a body mass index of 40 or more – and type 2 diabetes.
As KTVU reports, it will ultimately be up to healthcare professionals whether patients should be eligible – and the exact criteria and proof of a condition remain somewhat unclear. But with 13 million Californians currently eligible for vaccines, this move will make 17 to 19 million people eligible as of March 15, although distribution still depends on increased vaccine supplies to the state.
Ghaly explained that the wait until March 15 to include these groups was due to a lack of adequate vaccine supplies.
“I want the disabled community to know, we listen to you, and we will do more and better to provide access, even in the face of scarcity,” Governor Gavin Newsom said on Friday during a mass visit in San Francisco – vaccination at the Moscone Center.
Andrew Imparato, executive director of Disability Rights California, told the Chronicle: “I am grateful that they are committed to a deadline and, if they estimate the number to be so large (4 to 6 million more), that is a very good sign.”
As of Friday, about 5.5 million Californians have received their first vaccines. In San Francisco, 111,637 people were vaccinated with their first vaccines on Thursday, representing 15% of the population over 16 years old. Nearly 31,000 SF residents received both doses of the vaccine.
Related: Everyone over 65 on the mission, Bernal and Potrero can now receive vaccines at SF General
Photograph: Chaz Bharj/ Getty Images