SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Governor Spencer Cox has announced that Utahns, aged 16 and over, who have certain underlying health conditions, are now eligible to receive the vaccine.
The date was previously set for March 1.
The governor also announced that all people who are eligible to receive the vaccine no longer have to wait for meetings in their home county. If a resident finds an appointment available outside of their county, they can schedule these meetings.
Cox noted that those residents will also have to return to the same location for the second dose.
Those with the following health conditions are now eligible for the vaccine:
- Asplenia including splenectomy or a spleen dysfunction
- Body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher (also called class III or severe obesity)
- Chronic heart disease (not hypertension), including chronic heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and severe valvular or congenital heart disease
- Chronic liver disease, including chronic hepatitis B or C, alcohol-associated liver disease, primary biliary cirrhosis or primary sclerosing cholangitis or haemochromatosis
- Cancer diagnosed in the last 5 years that started in the blood, bone marrow or cells of the immune system. This type of cancer is called hematologic cancer (such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma).
- Cancer diagnosed in the last year, which did not start in the blood or bone marrow. This type of cancer is called non-hematologic cancer (except for diagnoses of basal cell and squamous cell cancer).
- Immunocompromised condition (weakened immune system) of blood, bone marrow or organ transplant; HIV; long-term use of corticosteroids; or other medicines that weaken the immune system
- Neurological disorders affecting respiratory function, including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, epilepsy, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, Parkinson’s disease, progressive cerebellar disease and quadriplegia or hemiplegia
- Receiving dialysis for severe kidney disease
- Receiving immunosuppression therapy
- Sickle disease
- Severe chronic respiratory disease (other than asthma), including severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, fibrous lung disease, bronchiectasis, or cystic fibrosis
- Benefit from solid organ transplantation
- Stage 4 or stage 5 chronic kidney disease
- Stroke and dementia (Alzheimer’s, vascular or frontotemporal)
- Uncontrolled diabetes with A1c of 9% or higher
The state does not ask for a doctor’s note to schedule an appointment with the vaccine. Cox has pleaded with Utahns not to lie about health conditions in order to get a vaccine before several at-risk individuals.
Appointments can be made through local health departments or through selected retail pharmacies.
“We expect COVID-19 vaccines to be available from April for other age groups, people with underlying medical conditions not listed above, and those living in congregation settings and at higher risk for the virus that causes COVID. -19 ”, according to the Utah Department of Health. “Vaccines should be available to the general public in late spring or early summer.”