People with a whole range of medical conditions are eligible for their vaccination which takes effect on Monday 15 March, as well as someone in a care facility such as a homeless shelter or jail.
People must rightly struggle over President Biden’s announcement Thursday night that everyone must be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine by May 1st. But as for the law here and now, NPR reports that 19.3% of the U.S. population has received at least one. dose, while the country in California is slightly behind by 19.2%. And in a statement today, Mayor London Breed said San Francisco both have an impressive 27% lead.
But that’s not the biggest news in Breed’s announcement. The bigger news is that according to the Chronicle, more groups are eligible to start the vaccine from Monday 15 March. These groups include a very wide range of people with qualifying medical conditions, and those living in community care facilities, such as homeless shelters or correctional facilities.
“Vaccination for people with disabilities and who have serious underlying conditions, and people who are in the community environment, is an important part of our efforts to save lives and protect our most vulnerable residents,” Breed said in a Friday statement said. “Next week we will continue to expand access to vaccines in San Francisco and we will continue to work with accessibility advocates and community members to make sure we do our best to reach everyone who qualifies. . “
Her statement adds that “although the supply is still not at the level we need, we are making good progress and we will try our best to get vaccinations from people as quickly and comfortably as possible.”
To ensure access to low-barrier vaccines, SF does not require vaccination sites that do not have access to patients’ medical records to require proof of diagnosis and / or disability.
Instead, patients may be asked to testify to their qualifying condition themselves.
– Matt Haney (@MattHaneySF) 12 March 2021
Breed’s announcement expands on the updated permissions announced Thursday, which include a number of medical conditions such as cancer, pregnancy and a number of heart diseases. According to KRON4, San Francisco is adding additional groups that ‘include people with HIV and developmental, medical, physical, sensory or behavioral problems’. Everyone aged 16-64 with these conditions is eligible on Monday, 65 and older are already eligible.
San Francisco will be eligible for vaccinations for people with disabilities and serious underlying health conditions, as well as homeless people living in congregations, city officials said. https://t.co/mTBUQNAPAQ
– SF Examiner (@sfexaminer) 12 March 2021
The sudden new suitability of the homeless population is sure to raise eyebrows, but it does not appear that whole SF uninhabited population. According to Breed’s announcement, vaccines can be passed on to anyone in a “high-risk care facility, including correctional facilities, homeless shelters and other care and treatment facilities for congregations,” and that includes “all homeless people” at short notice. institutions. ”The examiner adds that the city is already planning mobile vaccination sites to reach the homeless population.
If you are in one of these eligible groups, or in any Phase 1b group, you can go to SF.gov/getvaccinated to make an appointment. The website does say, “Even if you qualify, there may not be a dose available at the moment,” but keep looking back. And of course, your Muni ride is free as well as from your appointment.
Related: Do you want a vaccine before you are eligible? California Creates New Volunteer Website [SFist]
Image: Macau Photo Agency via Unsplash