Iowa expanding COVID vaccine eligibility to those 64 years of age and younger with medical conditions on Monday

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) -Starting on Monday, March 8th, Iowa vaccine providers can officially start vaccinating individuals 64 and younger with medical conditions that with increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health.

The announcement comes as several counties have reported they are nearing completion of vaccinating previous priority groups.

Some counties and vaccine providers are expected to remain focused on previous priority populations until they are closer to completion.

Because vaccine production has not fully met the demand for vaccines, Iowans asked to remain patient as vaccine production increases.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), individuals with the following conditions are considered to be at an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19:

• Cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Down Syndrome
• Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
• Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
• Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
• Pregnancy
• Sickle cell disease
• Smoking
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Based on current data, adults of any age with the following conditions might be at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19:

• Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
• Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
• Cystic fibrosis
• Hypertension or high blood pressure
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines
• Neurologic conditions, such as dementia
• Liver disease
• Overweight (BMI > 25 kg/m2, but < 30 kg/m2)
• Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
• Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)
• Type 1 diabetes mellitus

The White House announced this week that by the end of May, there will be enough vaccine for anyone over the age of 16 who chooses to receive one.

For more information about the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) recommendations for those conditions, click here.

Starting March 9th, the 211 Call Center will be able to assist Iowans age 65 and older who need assistance scheduling an appointment and don’t have access to the technology to do so.

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