Three vaccines are now available in California to those aged 16-64 who have the qualifying health conditions. Doctor’s offices, super sites, and pharmacies are busy putting needles into arms to fight the spread of COVID-19, but there’s an intriguing catch. The verification of the pre-approved medical conditions to receive a vaccine is non-existent. Vaccine sites simply don’t have access to private medical records — unlike doctor’s offices. In fact, requiring those records could be considered a violation of privacy. Confidentiality is the name of the game, which is why you can receive the vaccine without showing any medical documents.
This begs the question, what are the requirements to receive your jab? A photo ID and proof you live/work in the country.
The Qualifying Health Conditions
People between 16-64 are eligible to receive the vaccine in California right now if they have one or more of the following health conditions:
- Cancer, current with a weakened immune system
- Chronic kidney disease, stage 4 or above
- Chronic pulmonary disease, oxygen-dependent
- Down syndrome
- Solid organ transplant, leading to a weakened immune system
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell disease
- Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies (but not hypertension)
- Severe obesity (Body Mass Index ≥ 40 kg/m2)
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus with a hemoglobin A1c level greater than 7.5%
It’s important to note where these health conditions come from. These conditions have been specifically found to put patients living with a high risk for death. If those living with these conditions were infected with the coronavirus, they would endure “severe complications.”
Other Qualifying Scenarios
Those with a developmental or “other significant, high-risk disability” may also qualify given one of the following situations:
- A COVID-19 infection is likely to result in severe life-threatening illness or death
- Acquiring COVID-19 will limit the individual’s ability to receive ongoing care or services vital to their well-being and survival
- Providing adequate and timely COVID care will be particularly challenging as a result of the individual’s disability
To see the full fact sheet of conditions and disabilities that qualify, click here.
Jumping the Vaccine Line
One other fascinating aspect of the vaccine rollout (both here in Los Angeles and across the country) concerns those jumping the line to get vaccinated. It is an increasingly prolific problem, as states across the U.S. open up inoculations to more groups. It’s a complex web, in particular, because each state has its own approach to the vaccination process.
The unique scenario has even prompted the creation of websites such as Dr. B, designed to connect vaccine seekers with local providers. The concept is straightforward: Dr. B aims to avoid the wasting of unused doses at the end of each day. They do so by texting individuals when doses become available. In effect, it’s a win-win situation because vaccine sites can avoid wasting precious doses, and vax hopefuls can snag the elusive COVID vaccine.
Have you been vaccinated? Did you experience any negative side effects? We’d love to hear all about your experience in the comments below:
Contributor, designer & admin for JohnHart Gazette.
