McCulloch, 27, lives with type 1 diabetes, as does her twin sister and father. The disease has an increased risk for serious diseases if they get Covid-19.
“One of the first things my dad told me when I was diagnosed was that I would have to fight for myself and my health all my life,” McCulloch told CNN. “So when I walked in and was able to get the vaccine … I felt such a sense of relief.”
Since then, many states have switched to vaccinating the following priority groups, such as other essential workers, older adults and – more recently – people with comorbidity or underlying medical conditions that put them at increased risk, such as diabetes.
But the move to vaccinate people with diabetes and other conditions has not been uniform nationwide. In some countries people with comorbidity are not yet able to receive the vaccine – and in countries where they are eligible, there is a difference between what conditions someone is eligible for a vaccine, and whether paperwork is required to to confirm the condition.
The underlying conditions that qualify
The CDC notes that adults of any age with the following underlying conditions are at increased risk for severe Covid-19: cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, Down syndrome, heart disease, obesity and severe obesity, sickle cell disease, smoking, and type 2-diabetes. The list also includes people with a weakened immune system due to solid organ transplantation and pregnancy.
Some states contain only some of the conditions on the list of conditions, while others may require a person to live with two or more of the conditions to be eligible.
The state of Colorado, where McCulloch lives, has not started vaccinating people with certain illnesses or underlying health conditions, such as cancer, heart disease or diabetes.
McCulloch was able to receive a first dose of the Moderna vaccine because a local pharmacist who vaccinated McCulloch’s mother mentioned that the pharmacy had extra doses of vaccine that needed to be administered quickly. Otherwise, the doses would expire and could not be used.
“They asked her if she had anyone she knew living with diabetes, heart disease and all that – and she said her husband and her two daughters both live with diabetes,” McCulloch said. “So I could go.”
When McCulloch arrived at the pharmacy to receive the vaccine, the pharmacist provided evidence that McCulloch was living with diabetes. McCulloch said she showed a glucose monitor sensor on her arm to the pharmacist, some of her medical data she tracked on an app and her health insurance information.
“Just to be in the right place at the right time, I was able to jump in line and grab my first dose,” McCulloch said. She is due on February 15 for her second dose.
“I realize I have a very privileged attitude, because of the way the implementation was done, and because my mother was a special education teacher,” McCulloch said.
“My father and my twin sister, for example, have not yet received their vaccine,” she said. “It’s part of the problem right now – that the rules of the states differ so much, and at the end of the day, people with comorbidities deserve to receive the vaccine just as much as other people.”
Where people with comorbidities are eligible
Some of the countries have vaccinated this group, while others only start with pre-registration. Within a state, it can differ from country to country.
In a few other states, vaccinations will begin soon this month.
On Wednesday, Governor JB Pritzker in Illinois said in a news release: “Once we receive enough vaccine supply, we do not have to waste any time protecting a broader section of our most vulnerable population.”
“Some … are going to be on the honor system”
But how individuals affirm their underlying conditions differs from place to place.
In some states, such as New York and New Mexico, documentation is required during vaccinations to prove that you have an underlying medical condition. New Yorkers, for example, must provide a doctor’s letter, medical records, or signed certification.
In some other states, such as New Jersey, Texas and Virginia, no documentation is required.
Lara Anton, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of State Health Services, said in an email to CNN on Thursday: “We do not want to create barriers that prevent people from being vaccinated. To confirm chronic medical conditions, providers must “If a provider does not have access to the person’s medical history, the person can disclose their qualifying medical condition. They do not have to provide documents to prove that they qualify.”
Every state is different “and some of these vaccine registration processes are going to take place on the honor system,” said Lori Tremmel Freeman, chief executive officer of the National Association of County and City Health Officials known as NACCHO.
As someone living with high blood pressure, Freeman said she pre-registered for a vaccine on an online waiting list in her community of Prince William County, Virginia, in the category of underlying health conditions. Covid-19 vaccines will be administered to the priority group as soon as the province is in the next vaccination phase.
“In the case of my own jurisdiction, pre-registration for those with underlying conditions is based on a system of honor to tell you the truth,” she said. “I do not have to provide proof of medication, a diagnosis of the underlying condition or anything like that.”
Freeman said there are several ways residents can learn about their eligibility for a Covid-19 vaccine, for example through their local health department, community organizations or the faith community.
McCulloch, who received her first dose in Colorado, is definitely looking forward to when her twin sister and father are eligible to be vaccinated in their communities.
“I believe in healthcare, and I believe in science,” McCulloch said. “It is critical to the health and safety of our people.”
CNN’s Ashley Ahn contributed to this report.