SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – Millions more Californians are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and many do not know they can get it.
On February 2, the California Health Alert Network sent out new guidelines, clarifying that “informal caregivers” should be given priority access to the vaccine.
According to the letter, an informal carer is “an unpaid family member or other person who regularly helps and supervises the day-to-day care of an elderly or disabled person, but does not have to live in the same house”.
“There is a critical link between providing care to our elderly population and those who cannot access access to care at all,” says ElderHelp CEO Deb Martin.
“Family caregivers are at high risk, not only emotionally for the burden of care, but also for the possibility of contaminating the people who care for them,” explains Martin.
But the definition of “informal caregiver” is vague. County officials say anyone who wants to get vaccinated as an informal caregiver must bring evidence with them to the vaccination site.
“We need a doctor’s note,” says Nathan Fletcher, the county’s supervisor. “A doctor has to certify and verify this and has to produce this at each of our sites when they arrive for an appointment.”
The health alert network guidelines also state that the letter must use the term “informal caregiver” and be from the caregiver’s doctor.
The new requirements open up vaccines for millions of people in California. According to the CDC, 20% of Californians over the age of 45 say they act as caregivers for a friend or family member.
This includes about 250,000 people in San Diego who have loved their people with Alzheimer’s or Dementia.
“It’s a blessing to be recognized and vaccinated now,” says Adrienne Pierre, who cares for her 86-year-old mother, Rosemary. He received the vaccine as an informal caregiver earlier this month.
“It’s not about me. It’s about (keeping) my mother safe,” she explains.
“I’m used to seeing my parents almost every day,” says Beth Klareich, who helps care for her parents Nancy and Herschel, but has not yet been vaccinated. “It would be a great game changer for all of us in terms of the care and quality of their lives.”
There is concern that the vague definition would allow some people to take advantage of the program and “jump the line” to get a vaccine. But Martin says he doesn’t expect this to happen too often, and it’s a worthwhile risk if it means people can get the care they need.
“As for me, whoever gets the vaccination will be a positive thing for the aging community,” says Martin. It will help support our work to try to eliminate this terrible pandemic that is affecting so many people.