California is opening access to COVID vaccines to more people. As part of this they have issued “Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Guidelines” which includes guidance on vaccines for people with developmental disabilities. Access will start March 15. Individuals must be 16 years or older, and meet these requirements:
1) The individual is likely to develop severe life-threatening illness or death from COVID-19 infection
2) Acquiring COVID-19 will limit the individual’s ability to receive ongoing care or services vital to their well-being and survival
3) Providing adequate and timely COVID care will be particularly challenging as a result of the individual’s disability.
Here is a quote of the guidance:
Vaccinating those at higher risk
Beginning March 15, healthcare providers may use their clinical judgement to vaccinate individuals aged 16-64 who are deemed to be at the very highest risk to get very sick from COVID-19 because they have the following severe health conditions:
Cancer, current with weakened immune system
Chronic kidney disease, stage 4 or above
Chronic pulmonary disease, oxygen dependent
Down syndrome
Solid organ transplant, leading to a weakened immune system
Pregnancy
Sickle cell disease
Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies (but not hypertension)
Severe obesity (Body Mass Index ≥ 40 kg/m2)
Type 2 diabetes mellitus with hemoglobin A1c level greater than 7.5%OR
If as a result of a developmental or other severe high-risk disability one or more of the following applies:The individual is likely to develop severe life-threatening illness or death from COVID-19 infection
Acquiring COVID-19 will limit the individual’s ability to receive ongoing care or services vital to their well-being and survival
Providing adequate and timely COVID care will be particularly challenging as a result of the individual’s disability.
This is a very welcome change. Caregivers were allowed access to the COVID vaccines earlier (Family members of some people with developmental disabilities declared “health care workers” and are eligible for COVID vaccines in California). Now we can extend People with disabilities are at high risk from COVID and getting this protection is a big step forward.
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By Matt Carey
Left Brain Right Brain 
Santa Clara County is not participating in this program.
On Thu, Feb 18, 2021, 9:45 AM Left Brain Right Brain wrote:
> Sullivan (Matt Carey) posted: “California is opening access to COVID > vaccines to more people. As part of this they have issued “Updated COVID-19 > Vaccine Allocation Guidelines” which includes guidance on vaccines for > people with developmental disabilities. Access will start March 15. In” >
Santa Clara County has decided not to participate in this change to the criteria. People under 64 with disabilities will need to wait until their age bracket.
My doctor’s office at Valley Med informed me when I asked, with a link to the county website.
Please vet your information properly before posting.
“My doctor’s office at Valley Med informed me when I asked, with a link to the county website.”
I would suggest providing the language from the county website to them: “the county does not determine vaccine eligibility”.
My doctor’s office said that Santa Clara County is NOT going to adopt the change to vaccination for people with disabilities.
That is not true in Santa Clara County (San Jose metro area).
https://www.sccgov.org/sites/covid19/Pages/COVID19-vaccine-information-for-public.aspx
Click on “phase 1B” link and it takes you to:
https://covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/#California%27s-vaccination-plan
Which is where I got the quotes above.
Under “see if it’s my turn”
Below which is the link to “phase 1B” which I mentioned before.
It doesn’t happen until March 15.
Ugh, not happening a couple states north of you. While paid caregivers are eligible, not so much for those with disabilities that include heart conditions. Like my kid, and another of someone I know.
Fortunately we are retired and are good at limiting our contact. We have eaten in a restaurant once in the past year, but they were very good about creating separation between tables with stacks of takeout pizza boxes (they make good walls).
My antisocial kid is good with this, and has their job coaching done with group Zooms, which has actually made them more social. Go figure.
I am so terribly sorry that high risk disabilities are not included nationwide.
That includes those who provide direct care to the regional center consumers with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and epilepsy. Eligible family members must get documentation from their regional centers, verifying the qualifying condition of the family member cared for and caregiver status, according to the state health department.
I cant describe how much I got excited after hearing that news as I have a very close person with disabled hands. I was so worried about her but finally she is vaccinated too. Cheered my mood reading this. Thank you Kathryn for this article