Hundreds of thousands in danger by age, work, now out of California vaccine precedence – Each day Democrat

In California, more than 4.4 million people at health risk were newly approved for the rare COVID-19 vaccine this week. However, the state has also tacitly removed millions of people who are vulnerable to the disease because of their age or occupation from a mention in its priority plan.

And many of these 50-64 year olds and other key workers exposed at work are wondering if they will ever be prioritized or if they will have to join the mosh pit with everyone else when the US opens the doors open to anyone I want a vaccine, maybe as early as May.

“They’re people between the ages of 62 and 64 that we’ve heard a lot about and who are really concerned,” said Fred Buzo, assistant director of state for AARP California, finding that more than 93% of the state’s deaths are among people occurred at the ages of 50 and older. “There is a concern that not only the 50-plus but also the 65-plus will fall further behind with so many other people in the queue.”

The disappearance of 50-64 year olds and other workers, listed as the next priority phase on the state’s online vaccine information website, appears to have occurred in February. But it’s gotten more attention since President Biden said last week he expected the rating to open to all adults and older teens on May 1, and after California expanded the rating this week, those groups weren’t included. The California Department of Health did not respond to questions about the next funding period on Wednesday.

When asked about the change at a press conference this week, Governor Gavin Newsom said other groups would be prioritized as part of an unfolding “staircase”, with exposure risk and age “our main factors in prioritizing”. But Newsom added that “our North Star continues to be justice,” and didn’t say which groups might be next in line and when.

“I expect that over the next few days and weeks, as more and more supplies come into the state, you will continue to see a relaxation moving our way to where the puck goes on May 1st, where we are for all loosen up and all layers are completely removed, ”said Newsom. “So we expect this cadence.”

Vaccination efforts nationally and nationwide have been chaotic and inconsistent as the makers of the approved vaccines – Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson – scramble to boost production while leaders try to prioritize who will base the doses on supposed to receive highest risks of exposure or death from coronavirus.

Since vaccines first became available in December, California has repeatedly changed its prioritization plan. In addition, the current system does not quite meet the recommendations of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC recommendations, prepared by an independent panel of medical and public health experts, have prioritized health workers and the vulnerable elderly and disabled residents of long-term care facilities.

The CDC next prioritized people age 75 and older who put them at higher risk of dying from the virus. This phase also includes frontline workers in key occupations with high exposure risk, including public safety, food, grocery and agriculture, teachers and day care workers, postal workers and public transport workers. Thereafter, the CDC’s priority includes ages 65 to 74, ages 16 to 64 with certain health hazards, and other key workers, including energy, construction, finance, law, and communications.

California began a similar plan that was supposed to cover approximately 3 million people nationwide.

But then the state changed course with the next phase, starting with the over 65-year-olds as well as those employed in the fields of education and childcare, food and agriculture and emergency services, a total of around 12 million people. A second part included workers in the transportation, critical manufacturing, industrial, commercial and housing, incarcerated and homeless sectors.

The next stage in California was to include people ages 50 to 64 and people ages 16 to 49 with specific health risks. Workers from the energy, water, chemical, financial, government and communications sectors were also included in this phase. However, this stage is no longer listed on the state’s COVID-19 vaccination distribution schedule.

Instead, this week on Monday the state opened eligibility to 4.4 million people, including people with cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease, sickle cell disease, severe obesity, mental illness, the developmentally disabled, pregnant women and addicts as incarcerated, homeless, public transportation and airport workers. The 50- to 64-year-old age group and a few other occupations that were next in line are left out.

A total of 19.4 million of California’s 40 million residents are now eligible for vaccinations – 4.5 million have already been fully vaccinated and 4.3 million have received either of the two vaccinations required for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

But only 47.5% of those over 65 and 20% of 50 to 64 year olds received at least one dose of vaccine, compared to 32.6% of 18 to 49 year olds who received 6.7% of COVID-19 – Identify deaths of the state. These younger people qualified for a shot because of their job or disability.

Middle-aged and older Californians have been frustrated that their age bracket in other states or counties is eligible. Alaska and Mississippi have made vaccines available to everyone ages 16 and older. Among the large, populous states, New York and Florida vaccinate people aged 60 and over, and Texas is one of the five states that have been eligible for funding over the age of 50.

In the Bay Area, Solano County offers vaccinations to those aged 50 and over who live or work there.

“Although I understand how others need the vaccine before I do, I’m still a little sad (and a little frustrated) that California removed Phase 1C (with 50-64 year olds) from its vaccination prioritization,” said Technology advisor Raymond Yee on Twitter over the weekend.

While I understand how others need the vaccine before I do, I’m still a little sad (and a little frustrated) that California removed Phase 1C (with 50-64 year olds) from its vaccination prioritization in February. See 1C in https: //t.co/4SkZbZmmL3, but not in https://t.co/EDoDyrZSvV

– Raymond Yee (@rdhyee) March 13, 2021