California Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Mark Ghaly announced on Friday that millions of younger Californians with disabilities and underlying health conditions that put them at risk for serious COVID infections will be eligible for vaccinations starting March 15.
San Francisco had already talked about giving vaccines to people with serious underlying health conditions in Phase 1C, with Phase 1B starting Feb. 24. discretion of healthcare providers.
On March 15, people aged 16 to 64 with a range of disabilities are eligible, and people with cancer, chronic kidney disease stage 4 or higher, chronic lung disease, Down syndrome, weakened immune system from a solid organ transplant, sickle cell disease, pregnancy , heart disease, severe obesity – with a Body Mass Index of 40 or higher – and type 2 diabetes.
As KTVU reports, it’s ultimately up to healthcare providers whether patients should be eligible – and the exact criteria and evidence of a condition remains a bit unclear. But with 13 million Californians currently eligible for vaccines, this change will make 17 to 19 million people eligible as of March 15, although distribution will still depend on a greater supply of vaccines flowing into the state.
Ghaly explained that the wait until March 15 to include these groups is due to the lack of adequate vaccine supplies.
“I want the disability community to know we’ve heard you, and we’re going to do more and better to provide access even with the scarcity,” Gavin Newsom said on Friday during a visit to Mass in San Francisco. – vaccination site at the Moscone Center.
Andrew Imparato, Executive Director of Disability Rights California, tells The Chronicle, “I am grateful that they committed to a time frame, and if they estimate the number to be that large (4 million to 6 million more), that’s a very good sign . “
On Friday, about 5.5 million Californians received their first vaccination shots. In San Francisco, 111,637 people were vaccinated with their first injections as of Thursday, equivalent to 15% of the population over the age of 16. Nearly 31,000 SF residents have received both vaccine doses.
Related: Anyone over 65 in the mission, Bernal and Potrero can now get drop-in vaccinations from SF General
Photo: Chaz Bharj/ Getty Images