Covid-19 age-based vaccination rules are on fire

Younger people will become eligible in stages. Both states have created an exception for people working in education.

David Margolis, who lives in Stamford, Conn., Said he expected his 21-year-old son, who has a rare genetic disorder that makes him more susceptible to a severe case of Covid-19, to be included in the group. following. of persons eligible for the vaccine. Instead, he will have to wait at least until May, when Connecticut will open vaccinations for its last group, aged 16 to 34.

“It simply came to our notice then. I was heartbroken, “said Mr Margolis, 63.” The way you take this population of people who have these underlying conditions and throw them away in a way is right beyond me. “

Disability Rights Connecticut, a nonprofit group representing people with disabilities, has filed a formal complaint with the U.S. Office of Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, arguing that the new Connecticut policy discriminates against people with disabilities.

Eligibility criteria for Covid-19 vaccines vary by state, but all have given priority to vaccinating their former residents and health care workers. The vast majority also follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to give priority to people with high-risk underlying medical conditions and essential workers.

Many states have changed eligibility rules as they go along, creating confusion for residents. California has temporarily rejected the opening of vaccinations to key workers to speed up the process, but has since allowed food and agriculture workers to be vaccinated. On March 15, people with basic medical conditions will become eligible.

Officials in Maine and Connecticut say launching the vaccine based on age is a faster and more effective method that will prevent more deaths. Eliminates the complications of choosing professions and medical conditions that would qualify and verify this information. State health officials have also concluded that age is the most important factor in determining whether someone with a severe case of Covid-19 lives or dies.

“There is a great fear there, a justifiable fear, of catching the virus,” Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, told a news conference last week. “The decision we make is the one that will benefit most people and save most lives.”

She acknowledged that some people with underlying medical conditions would be disappointed with the change. According to the new state plan, the last eligible age group, aged 29 and under, can be vaccinated in July.

Josh Geballe, the chief operating officer in Connecticut who helps direct the state’s pandemic response, said giving priority to essential workers and people with underlying medical conditions is not viable, given the challenge of checking occupations and health details.

Also, the number of people living in Connecticut with a skilled medical condition and essential workers could have been up to 1.5 million, Mr Geballe said. Currently, there are not enough doses of vaccine for this, so the state should have created another level of prioritization within these groups, further complicating efforts, he said.

“Our strategy is really designed to make sure we go as fast as possible, to reduce deaths and severe illnesses at Covid, and also to give us the best opportunity to be fair in our launch of vaccines, “said Mr. Geballe. “We remain convinced that this strategy is the best way to achieve both goals.”

Many young key workers were dismayed to learn that they had to wait longer for the vaccine. Allyson McCabe, a 21-year-old assistant front-end manager at a Stop & Shop in Simsbury, Conn., Called the state’s new vaccination rules a “slap.”

“We’ve been facing this Covid since day one and we don’t really get thanks for that,” said McCabe.

Some medical professionals say the approach raises questions about fairness and could exacerbate the inequities caused by the pandemic.

“The question for society is, is this a fair approach? And, from my point of view, I think we can take a different approach and a more equitable approach, ”said Bonnie Swenor, director of the Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center, who believes people with underlying medical conditions should be eligible sooner. .

Arthur Caplan, director of the medical ethics division at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine, said that given the rocky launch of the vaccine in the United States, prioritizing age makes sense rather than trying to fix a dysfunctional system.

“I think it was our goal just to get him out there,” Dr. Caplan said. “Unfortunately, I’m willing to sacrifice a bit on equity right now.”

Write to Joseph De Avila to [email protected]