EL PASO, Texas – The requirements to be in group 1B of the vaccination process must be 65 years or older, or to have chronic medical problems.
Many El Pasoans have expressed concern to ABC-7 that the city health department is not looking at the latter. It turns out you’re right.
The city of El Paso is not investigating whether people who want the vaccine have chronic health conditions.
Why not? Angela Mora, director of the department of public health, says that this can cause problems:
‘At the moment for individuals with a chronic condition, we are not asking for proof of chronic condition for the time being. The state is considering those individuals who are struggling to reach out or access a medical provider to give a letter in which they say x or y medical condition. We know we want to make sure we do not place barriers for individuals getting their vaccine if they have a chronic condition. ‘
This is currently the system, but it may change. Mora warned what would happen if people abused it:
“So we are currently using the honor system. If you tell us you have a chronic condition, you can take everything you have to verify that you have it. But if you do not have it, we must still vaccinate you. “
The director of public health says the city looks to see if people are 65 years or older; she says you will be asked for an ID such as a driver’s license or passport.
And health workers are asked for a job ID or a paycheck indicating where they work.
But if the city does change its policy, it will obviously not affect anyone who has played the system – only future potential offenders.
And ABC-7 does not encourage this at all, but it is important to get answers to these questions and be transparent with El Pasoans.