Millions in California lose their priority status

California this week admitted more than 4.4 million people with health risks to the rare COVID-19 vaccine, but the state also silently dropped millions of people who are vulnerable to the disease due to their age or occupation from any mention in his priority plan.

And many of the 50- to 64-year-olds and other essential workers who are exposed to work continue to wonder if they will ever be prioritized, or if they, along with everyone else, join the Mosh pit when the US opens its doors open to anyone who wants a vaccine, maybe as early as May.

“These are people aged 62 and 64 that we have heard a lot about and that we are very concerned about,” said Fred Buzo, co-director of AARP California, noting that more than 93% of state deaths among people was in age. 50 and older. “There is a concern that not only the 50-plussers but also the 65-plussers will sit even further behind by putting so many other people in line.”

It appears that the disappearance of 50-64-year-olds and other workers who were listed as a next priority phase of the state’s online vaccination website happened in February. But it has gained more knowledge since President Biden said last week that he expects admission to all adults and older teens to open on May 1, and after California’s expanded qualification this week did not include the groups. The California Department of Public Health did not respond Wednesday to questions about the next fitness phase.

At a news conference this week, Gavin Newsom called on other groups to be prioritized as part of an unfolding “stairway,” with exposure risk and age “our most important factors in terms of prioritization.” But Newsom added that “our North Star is still equity”, and did not say which groups may be next, or when.

‘I expect you will continue to see over the next days and weeks, as more and more stock enters the state, a weakening will move in the direction of where the puck is going on May 1st, where we for all and all levels has been completely removed, ”said Newsom. “So we expect the cadence.”

The vaccination against nationwide and nationwide has been chaotic and unequal as manufacturers of the authorized shots – Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson – are trying to increase production, while government leaders are trying to prioritize who should get the doses based on the greatest risks for exposure or death of the coronavirus.

Since the vaccines first became available in December, California has repeatedly changed its priority plan. This adds to the confusion that the current scheme does not fully comply with the recommendations of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC recommendations, from an independent panel of medical and public health professionals, make healthcare professionals and vulnerable elderly and disabled residents of long-term care functions a top priority.

The CDC then gave priority to people aged 75 and older whose age they were at greater risk of dying from the virus. The phase also includes frontline workers in essential positions with a high exposure risk, including public safety, groceries, food and agriculture, teachers and day care workers, postal and public transport workers. Thereafter, the CDC’s ages 65-74 include those 16-64 with specific health risks and other essential workers, including energy, construction, finance, legislation, and communications.

California started with a similar plan and planned to cover about 3 million people across the country.

But then the state of course changed with the next phase, starting with those 65 and older, as well as education and childcare, food and agriculture and emergency services workers, about 12 million people. A second part included workers in transportation, critical manufacturing, industrial, commercial and residential services, prisoners and the homeless.

The next phase in California was to include people aged 50-64 and ages 16-49 with specific health risks. Workers in energy, water, chemicals, finance, government and communications were also included in the phase. But the phase is no longer listed on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan for the state.

Instead, the state took into account 4.4 million people this Monday, including those with cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease, sickle cell disease, severe obesity, mental illness, developmentally disabled, pregnant women, addicts. as the prisoner, homeless, public transport and airport workers. The age group 50-64 and a few other occupations that were next in line remained.

A total of 19.4 million of California’s 40 million are eligible for vaccines – 4.5 million have already been fully vaccinated, and 4.3 million have received one of the two shots needed for the Pfizer and Modern vaccines. .

But only 47.5% of people aged 65 and older and 20% of people aged 50-64 received at least one vaccine dose, compared to 32.6% of people aged 18-49, who are responsible for 6.7 % of COVID-19 deaths of the state. Those younger people qualified for a shot because of their occupation or disability.