by Robin Kemp

People age 16 and up will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine–that is, as supplies are available–as of April 1, Gov. Brian Kemp announced March 10.

What’s more, people age 55 and older, as well as those who suffer from a number of medical conditions, will be eligible starting Monday, March 15.

Those eligible for the vaccine as of Thursday, April 1 include people with disabilities and people 16 and older with “certain medical conditions that increase their risk of severe illness from COVID-19,” meaning:

  • Asthma 
  • Cancer
  • Cerebrovascular disease
  • Chronic kidney disease 
  • COPD
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Diabetes
  • Hypertension 
  • Heart conditions
  • Immunocompromised state
  • Liver disease
  • Neurologic conditions
  • Overweight and obesity
  • Pulmonary fibrosis
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Thalassemia

The only approved vaccine for 16- and 17-year olds is Pfizer, GDPH says.

As of 4:20 p.m. Monday, March 10, the Clayton County Health District said it does have vaccine on hand. Call (678) 479-2223 to schedule an appointment.

As of March 10, the Georgia Department of Public Health says these people are eligible for COVID-19 vaccine–again, when there is vaccine to be had:

  • Healthcare workers (physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians, EMS personnel, environmental services, etc.)
  • Residents and staff of long-term care facilities
  • Adults aged 65+ and their caregivers
  • Law enforcement, firefighters, first responders
  • Educators and staff (Pre-K, K-12, DECAL licensed or exempt childcare programs)
  • Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caregivers
    • Intellectual disability: a disability characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior, which covers many everyday social and practical skills, starting before age 22.
    • Developmental disability: a physical or mental impairment before age 22, expected to last a lifetime, that impacts at least three activities of daily living (self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, economic self-sufficiency).
  • Parents of children with complex medical conditions who are at high risk for COVID complications
  • Malignancies requiring active treatment
  • Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system), including organ transplant (bone marrow or solid organ) within two years
  • Critical congenital heart disease
  • Asthma (moderate to severe)
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity (BMI >95%)
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Significant neurologic injury or condition (e.g. hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, traumatic brain injury, congenital anomaly, acute flaccid myelitis) with functional/developmental impairment (e.g. cerebral palsy, developmental disability, prematurity, mitochondrial disease)
  • Technology dependence (e.g. BiPAP, trach)

If you have concerns or questions about COVID-19 illness or the COVID-19 vaccine, you can call (888) 357-0169.

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