When Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna revealed their vaccines’ efficacy rates of 95% and 94.1%, respectively, it was a significant turning point. It felt like we were nearing the end of a challenging journey that had consumed us over the past year.
Since the approval of these vaccines in December 2020, the national dialogue has been dominated by discussions about availability, distribution, and eligibility. With limited supply, states are faced with the tough task of deciding who should be vaccinated first.
The CDC issued guidelines for states to follow in determining vaccine prioritization, based on recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an independent group of health experts. In its initial phase, the CDC prioritizes health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities, followed by frontline essential workers and individuals over the age of 75 in the second phase.
However, states are not obligated to adhere strictly to the CDC’s ACIP recommendations. As many states move beyond the first phase, they are making decisions that diverge from federal guidelines by either redefining essential worker categories or including groups that were previously excluded. Consequently, an individual’s position in the vaccination queue may depend on their location.
One group that has been largely overlooked in many states’ vaccination plans is individuals under 65 with high-risk conditions that make them particularly susceptible to COVID-19.
Take Jenna Roberts, a 42-year-old mother of two from Charlotte, N.C., who has cystic fibrosis and has undergone two double-lung transplants. She is actively raising awareness for this often neglected demographic, particularly in her home state of North Carolina.
Originally, North Carolina prioritized high-risk individuals, and Jenna felt a surge of hope when the vaccines were announced, stating unequivocally that she would accept the vaccine when offered. “I have participated in numerous drug trials to help patients like me access life-saving treatments,” she shared.
Initially placed in the second group, Jenna was disheartened when North Carolina revised its priority list, relegating her and other high-risk individuals to the fourth phase of five. For Jenna, this delay is not just an inconvenience; it could mean the difference between life and death. “I know that if I contract COVID, I likely won’t survive,” she explained in an interview with a local news station. “I can’t afford to take that risk.”
Having endured two double-lung transplants in 2012 and 2013, Jenna’s current lung function stands at 60%, and she is on immunosuppressive medications that limit her treatment options should she contract COVID.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation echoed Jenna’s concerns in a letter to North Carolina lawmakers, urging the state to prioritize individuals with severe underlying health conditions, including those living with cystic fibrosis, for COVID-19 vaccinations.
The CDC’s guidelines were established with three core principles: to minimize death and serious illness, to maintain societal functioning, and to lessen the additional burden COVID-19 places on already disadvantaged populations. Given this framework, it is essential that high-risk individuals, like Jenna, are prioritized for vaccines nationwide.
The crux of the issue is the necessity of vaccines and an efficient distribution system to ensure they reach those in need. Although the vaccine rollout has been slow, there are signs of acceleration, with daily vaccinations increasing from less than one million to 1.7 million, and indications that this rate may continue to rise. Dr. Anthony Fauci has suggested that vaccination could be open to all by April, though he has tempered that optimism recently.
In February, President Biden announced the procurement of an additional 200 million vaccine doses, raising the total to 600 million, enough to vaccinate every American adult by the end of May, thanks to the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine and its partnership with Merck.
While these developments are promising, the timeline may still be too slow for high-risk individuals unless they are prioritized in every state. Jenna is calling on state lawmakers to lead with empathy, urging them to consider how they would feel if they or their loved ones were at risk of severe complications or death from the virus.
Jenna’s advocacy has begun to yield results; North Carolina’s governor recently announced that select high-risk individuals will be eligible for the vaccine starting March 24. This announcement has given her renewed hope, and she encourages other high-risk patients to remain optimistic. “If you don’t have hope, you have nothing,” she affirms.
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For related topics, consider these searches:
- How to prioritize vaccines for high-risk individuals
- Impact of COVID-19 on individuals with cystic fibrosis
- Vaccination strategies for vulnerable populations
- Latest updates on COVID-19 vaccinations
- Support for high-risk patients during the pandemic
In summary, prioritizing vaccinations for younger individuals with high-risk conditions is crucial to saving lives during the pandemic. Advocacy from affected individuals like Jenna plays a vital role in ensuring that these voices are heard and acknowledged in the broader public health conversation.
Keyphrase: Vaccines for high-risk individuals
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