SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – Millions of California residents are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, and many do not know they can get it.
On February 2, the California Health Alert Network issued new guidelines explaining that ‘informal caregivers’ should be given priority to the vaccine.
According to the letter, an informal caregiver is “an unpaid family member or other person who regularly oversees the day-to-day care of a parent or disabled person but does not have to live in the same home.”
“This is a critical link between caring for our aging population and those who cannot access care at all,” said Deb Martin, ElderHelp’s CEO.
“Family caregivers run a great risk, not only emotionally for the burden of caring, but also the possibility of contaminating people they care for,” Martin explains.
But the definition of ‘Informal caregiver’ is vague. Provincial officials say anyone wishing to get a vaccine as an informal caregiver should bring proof to the vaccination site.
“It requires a doctor’s letter,” said Nathan Fletcher, the county’s supervisor. “A doctor has to certify and verify this, and it has to deliver it to each of our sites when they arrive for an appointment.”
The guidelines for health warning networks also say that the letter should use the term ‘Informal caregiver’ and come from the doctor of the person being cared for.
The new requirements provide vaccinations to millions of people in California. According to the CDC, 20% of Californians older than 45 say they act as caregivers for a friend or family member.
It includes an estimated 250,000 people in San Diego who have loved ones with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
“It’s a blessing to be recognized and vaccinated now,” said Adrienne Pierre, who is caring for her 86-year-old mother, Rosemary. She received the vaccine earlier this month as an informal caregiver.
“It’s not about me. It’s about (keeping) my mother safe,” she explains.
“I’m used to seeing my parents almost daily,” says Beth Klareich, who helps care for her parents Nancy and Herschel but has yet to be vaccinated. “It will be a tremendous game changer for all of us in terms of their care and their quality of life.”
There are concerns that the vague definition will allow some people to take advantage of the program and ‘jump the loop’ to get a vaccine. But Martin says she does not expect this to happen too often, and it is a valuable risk if it means people can get the care they need.
“As far as I’m concerned, anyone who gets the vaccine will have a positive effect on the aging community,” says Martin. “It’s going to help support our work to try and eliminate this terrible pandemic that is affecting so many people.”