Which Utahns are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in March? We have the answers.

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People 65 and older and people with certain medical conditions can get a vaccine next month.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Vaccines will be available to more residents next month.

| February 6, 2021, 2:10 am

Utah is gearing up to roll out COVID-19 vaccines to members of the public, among others. The next wave of people will be eligible from March.

Who is now eligible for a vaccine? Who is eligible in March?

Currently, the list of people who can receive a vaccine includes people over the age of 70, health professionals, first responders, K-12 teachers, and K-12 school personnel.

Beginning March 1, that list will open to people 65 and older, and anyone over 18 with a pre-existing medical condition approved by the state. People who have had the most cancers in the past year are eligible. People who have been diagnosed with hematologic cancer or blood cancer in the past five years are eligible. Anyone with uncontrollable diabetes, categorized as A1C levels of 9.0 or higher, is a candidate for an injection. People who are considered obese based on a body mass index of 40 or higher are eligible. If you are on immunosuppression therapy or have a weakened immune system due to medication or HIV, you are eligible for the vaccine.

Other eligible conditions include being an organ transplant recipient, having severe kidney disease, having chronic liver disease including hepatitis B or C, having chronic heart disease without hypertension, having chronic respiratory disease without asthma, having neurological conditions that affect the affect respiratory function, including Parkinson’s disease and Down syndrome, have had a stroke or dementia, and have asplenia, including sickle cell disease.

How do I prove that I have a medical condition that makes me eligible for a vaccine?

You don’t have to. The state relies on the honor system and is asking people with no underlying conditions not to take vaccines from those with serious medical conditions.

“If you don’t fall into those categories … don’t look for a vaccine,” said epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn at a press conference this week.

I am eligible for a vaccine! That means I have to call my health department to make an appointment, right?

Miss. Appointment schedules for March are not open yet.

Public announcements will be made when it is time for people to sign up. The state is asking residents not to harass local health departments while focusing on vaccinating people over 70. Anything that slows down that process will slow the distribution of vaccines to other groups, the state said.

Salt Lake County health department spokesman Nicholas Rupp said people could probably start scheduling March appointments about a week before the end of February. If the March schedule opens earlier, the public will be notified.

“They are not open now,” he said, “(Residents) should not call us or try to make an appointment now.”

I am not eligible for a vaccination in March. When can I get vaccinated?

More people should be able to receive the vaccine in April. The state plans to expand vaccine suitability to more age groups, more pre-existing conditions, and to people living in compound environments such as prisons.

Under current state plans, all Utahns should be able to receive a vaccine this spring or summer.

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