As you may be aware, the state of California has declared that they will be opening up vaccine eligibility on March 15 for those at extreme risk of complications with COVID-19. These eligible conditions are as follows:
- Cancer, current with debilitated or immunocompromised state
- Chronic kidney disease, stage 4 or above
- Chronic pulmonary disease, oxygen dependent
- Down syndrome
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell disease
- Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies (excludes hypertension)
- Severe obesity (Body Mass Index ≥ 40 kg/m2)
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus with hemoglobin A1c level greater than 7.5%
OR
If as a result of a developmental or other severe high-risk disability one or more of the following applies:
- The individual is likely to develop severe life-threatening illness or death from COVID-19 infection
- 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
What should you do if you feel you meet the above criteria?
If you have a local medical provider/specialist, you should contact them to see if they are able to vaccinate their eligible patients. It is most likely that specialty clinics that serve populations in the above categories will have better access to vaccine supply to vaccinate their patients.
If you do not have a local provider/specialist or you are unable to obtain a vaccine from your local provider/specialist, the Student Health Center (SHC) can attempt to obtain vaccine for you. Please send the SHC documentation of your condition via your MyWellness portal. This documentation should include medical records about your diagnosis that aligns with the above criteria and the contact information of the provider managing your condition for clarification or verification purposes. Once reviewed, further communication about your eligibility, vaccine availability, and scheduling an appointment for vaccination will be done through the MyWellness secure messaging system. In anticipation of the March 15th eligibility date, we would need to request vaccine supply by March 8th so please send in your information ASAP. Please be aware that even when we request vaccines, it is not guaranteed that we will receive it.
What if you have a condition that puts you at higher risk but is not included in the criteria above?
We understand that many common conditions like asthma, hypertension, obesity, etc. do put individuals at higher risk; however, this stage of eligibility is aimed at vaccinating our most vulnerable individuals that are at extreme risk of complications. Please do not submit documentation if your condition is not listed above as it will not be considered for approval.