The US state of California adds millions of people to its list of Covid-19 vaccination priorities, including “high-risk residents with developmental and other disabilities” and those with “underlying serious health conditions.”
The plan, presented by state health officials in a briefing on Friday, will begin on March 15 and will allow cancer patients, pregnant women and other people with disabilities to join health workers, the elderly, teachers and staff at farm in turn for a vaccine. Enlargement could add another 6 million Californians to the list of priorities.
It also extends the ages of 65 and over to the ages of 16 to 64 in these categories.
Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California Agency for Health and Human Services, told reporters that the beginning of March 15 will give officials time to learn details about how to receive vaccines for people with various disabilities and could include home visits. .
Ghaly acknowledged that the timing could be optimistic, warning that “we are still dealing with the lack of the vaccine. “This week, the state ‘s drastic vaccine shortage has led to the closure of mass vaccination centers in Los Angeles.”
The extensive list of those eligible includes people with cancer, chronic kidney disease, oxygen-dependent heart disease, Down syndrome, immunosuppressed organ transplant recipients, pregnant women, people with sickle cell disease, severe obesity and certain type 2 diabetes.
Ghaly expressed concern about the inequity of distribution between communities of color and low-income areas. There are plans to reach out to community clinics, public health systems and what they call “trusted messengers in communities whose data show they are reluctant to be vaccinated.”
Senior state health officials have acknowledged complaints from rural counties that they have not been given the right amount of vaccines. However, officials say these areas have historically been poorly served medically and much of the early distribution took place in areas with a large number of health workers.
Officials say the focus will now shift to rural areas of the California farming community, which has been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
Officials also believe that focusing on Californians with developmental disabilities and severe underlying conditions will allow for more vaccinations in vulnerable environments, such as prisons, homeless shelters and homeless areas.
The state estimates that 13 million Californians are eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine, including 3 million health workers, 3.4 million food and agriculture workers, 1.4 million in education, one million in emergency services. and more than 6 million people over the age of 65.