SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Governor Spencer Cox announced that Utahns aged 16 and over who have certain underlying health conditions are now eligible to receive the vaccine.
The date was previously set for March 1.
The governor also announced that all persons eligible to receive the vaccine no longer need to wait for consultations in their municipality. If a resident finds an appointment available outside of his municipality, he can schedule those appointments.
Cox noted that these residents will also have to return to the same location for the second dose.
Those with the following health conditions are now eligible for the vaccine:
- Asplenia including splenectomy or spleen dysfunction
- Body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher (also called Class III or severe obesity)
- Chronic heart disease (not hypertension), including chronic heart failure, ischemic heart disease and severe congenital heart valve or disease
- Chronic liver disease, including chronic hepatitis B or C, alcohol-related liver disease, primary biliary cirrhosis or primary sclerosing cholangitis or haemochromatosis
- Cancer diagnosed in the last 5 years that started in the blood, bone marrow or immune cells. This type of cancer is called hematological cancer (such as leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma).
- Cancer diagnosed in the last 1 year that did not start in the blood or bone marrow. This type of cancer is called non-hematological cancer (excluding basal and squamous cell diagnoses).
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) due to blood, bone marrow or organ transplantation; HIV; long-term use of corticosteroids; or other drugs that weaken the immune system
- Neurological conditions that impair respiratory function, including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, epilepsy, motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, Parkinson’s disease, progressive cerebellar disease and quadriplegia or hemiplegia
- Receiving dialysis for severe kidney disease
- Receiving immunosuppression therapy
- Sickle cell anemia
- Severe chronic respiratory disease (except asthma), including severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, fibrosing lung disease, bronchiectasis or cystic fibrosis
- Solid organ transplant recipient
- Stage 4 or stage 5 chronic kidney disease
- Stroke and dementia (Alzheimer’s, vascular or frontotemporal)
- Uncontrolled diabetes with A1c of 9% or higher
The state does not require a medical certificate to schedule a vaccine appointment. Cox pleaded with Utahns not to lie about health conditions to get a vaccine before more individuals at risk.
Appointments can be made at your local health department or at selected retail pharmacies.
“We hope that the COVID-19 vaccines will be available from April for other age groups, people with underlying medical conditions not listed above, and those who live in crowded environments and are at increased risk of contracting the virus that causes COVID-19,” according to the Utah Department of Health. “Vaccines should be available to the general public in late spring or early summer.”