COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Expands March 15, RivCo Needs Doses

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — In a move that will vastly expand the number of people eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, state health officials said Friday that as of March 15, shots can be administered to people 16 and older suffering from medical conditions or developmental disabilities making them susceptible to severe illness or death from the virus.

The move comes amid continued shortages in vaccine supply, but follows mounting pressure to make the shots available to people most at risk of dying or falling seriously ill if they contract the virus.

According to a bulletin sent to providers across the state, the California Department of Public Health advised that vaccinations can be made to people between ages 16 and 64 who suffer from:

• cancer;
• chronic kidney disease;
• chronic pulmonary disease;
• Down syndrome;
• weakened immune system from solid organ transplant;
• pregnancy;
• sickle cell disease;
• heart conditions;
• severe obesity; and
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The vaccines will also be available for anyone 16 or over who suffers from a "developmental or other severe high-risk disability" that leaves the person susceptible to serious illness or death from COVID-19; anyone who, if COVID-19 were acquired, would have limited ability to receive necessary ongoing care or services; or anyone whose disability would hamper the ability to be treated for COVID-19.

The state already allows vaccinations for anyone aged 65 or over regardless of health condition. When the new eligibility takes effect March 15, the number of Californians overall who will be eligible to receive shots under existing guidelines will increase to as many as 19 million.

To date, just over 5 million doses have been administered across California. The current vaccines require each person to receive two doses, spaced three to four weeks apart. As of Friday, Riverside County had received 307,850 doses, with all but about 11,000 administered.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 hospitalizations in Riverside County dropped to a two-month low Friday, though an additional 47 virus-related deaths were reported.

According to the Riverside University Health System, coronavirus hospitalizations countywide sank to 660, compared to 687 Thursday, and that includes 185 patients in intensive care units, a decline of nine in one day.

According to RUHS figures, the last time hospitalizations were at the current level was on Dec. 6.

Virus-related hospitalizations peaked near 1,700 on Jan. 10, according to county Emergency Management Director Bruce Barton.

The total number of COVID-19 cases recorded since the public health documentation period began in March is 285,414, up 600 from Thursday, officials said.

Data showed a total 3,524 deaths from virus-related complications in the last 11 months, compared to 3,477 reported Thursday.

Health officials said there will be no data releases again until Tuesday due to the Presidents Day holiday.

Officials on Wednesday confirmed the county's first case of the COVID variant B.1.1.7, first discovered in the United Kingdom. Its local point of origin was not disclosed, and RUHS noted that while B.1.1.7 is more contagious, it doesn't carry a higher mortality risk than other strains.