Do North Texans need to prove that they have underlying health problems to receive the COVID-19 vaccine?

As COVID-19 vaccines become more available to older Texans and those with underlying health problems, confusion remains over how those who qualify under the state’s distribution plan must demonstrate their eligibility.

Health care providers have access to medical records and can contact eligible patients about the vaccine. But state or local vaccination sites do not have medical files.

And while health officials want the initial vaccines to reach those most at risk of developing serious illnesses – a measure that will ease the burden on overburdened health systems – they also don’t want to make it difficult for people to vaccinate.

Currently, Texans eligible for the vaccine under the state plan include frontline health workers and those in long-term care facilities, known as phase 1A, and those over 65 and people aged 16 and over who have underlying health problems, known as phase 1B.

Health conditions on the state list include, but are not limited to, cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Down syndrome, certain heart diseases, organ transplant recipients, obesity and severe obesity, pregnancy , sickle cell disease and type 2 diabetes.

The state health department told health care providers to consult medical records to confirm underlying health conditions. If the provider doesn’t have access, people eligible in phase 1B can disclose their conditions – but they don’t have to provide documentation, said Lara Anton, a department spokesman.

“We don’t want to create barriers that prevent people from being vaccinated,” said Anton. “It is important to remember that each person vaccinated helps to slow the spread of the virus.”

The Dallas County health department, which the state has designated as a vaccination center, is focusing on people over 75 and has not yet opened appointments for youth in category 1B. When they do, health officials will not require medical records, said Dr. Philip Huang, director of the county’s health department.

While it is possible for someone to be dishonest about their 1B status, people should remember that the goal of phased vaccines is to “make the limited vaccine we have practical,” said Huang.

“We hope that everyone understands and that everyone prefers to protect their grandparents and their mothers and other people’s grandparents and mothers, and understand that this is in our interest,” he said.

Dr. Matt Richardson, director of Denton County’s health department, also a vaccine center, said the county has done its best to balance the guarantee that people are eligible and honest about their situation and receive “as much money as possible.” doses in as many arms as possible “.

“We would be upset if people weren’t being truthful, but that is a small price to pay,” he said, adding that the ultimate goal is to get the community to achieve collective immunity as soon as possible. “We would be much more upset if we were withholding vaccines and delaying an efficient and effective process.”

The health departments of Tarrant and Collin counties have also been designated as vaccine centers. A Collin County spokesman said patients are not required to provide medical records to make an appointment. Tarrant County did not respond to requests for comment.

Dr. John Carlo, chief executive of Prism Health North Texas, said the change in eligibility criteria at the Dallas County vaccination site, which is intended to provide vaccines to underserved communities, and data that showed that COVID- 19 initials went to wealthier neighborhoods in the north bothered him more than the idea of ​​people skipping the line.

“If we focus more on how we are really successful in reaching those who need to be reached, and less concerned with rejecting people who don’t seem to fit the criteria, I think it will be better served by the community.” Said Carlo.

Dallas County contested the same question about eligibility verification when vaccines were made available during the H1N1 flu outbreak, said Carlo. He served as director of the county health department at the time.

Carlo said the launch of the H1N1 vaccine was not as complex or widespread as the launch of COVID-19. The logistics and distribution guidelines depended entirely on the county, he said.

As an influenza virus, the authorities decided to first focus on children with underlying health problems. He said the department had considered requiring parents to provide documentation, but ultimately realized that this would be a burden on parents and health workers.

“Once you have 300 people in line, you won’t be able to sit there and watch this,” said Carlo. “As soon as you start rejecting a lot of people, you take away the rights of the people. The final question is: if you reject them that day, will they come back one day? And then you kind of defeated the whole issue, which is getting vaccines to everyone as quickly as possible. “