COVID-19 BREAKING NEWS: California to make persons 16-64 with disabilities eligible for vaccine

The California Department of Public Health has just announced that beginning March 15, healthcare providers may use their clinical judgement to vaccinate individuals age 16-64 who are deemed to be at the very highest risk for morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 as a direct result of additional severe health conditions that especially affect those with spinal cord injuries. The conditions included apply to individuals likely to develop severe life-threatening illness or death from COVID-19 infection due to:

• 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

The State also released a list of other secondary conditions that would now deem someone eligible for the vaccine. You can see the list of such conditions HERE.

Even though you will not be eligible until March 15, you should soon contact your primary care physician and begin discussing a schedule for vaccination.