SAN DIEGO (KGTV): Millions more Californians are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and many do not know they can get it.
On Feb. 2, the California Health Alerts Network sent out new guidelines, clarifying that priority access to the vaccine should be given to “informal caregivers.”
According to the letter, an informal caregiver is “an unpaid relative or other person who regularly helps and supervises the daily care of an elderly or disabled person, but who does not need to live in the same home.”
“They are a critical link between providing care to our aging population and those who cannot access care,” says Deb Martin, CEO of ElderHelp.
“Family caregivers are at great risk, not only emotionally because of the burden of care, but also because of the possibility of contaminating the very people they care for,” Martin explains.
But the definition of “informal caregiver” is vague. County officials say anyone who wants to get a vaccine as an informal caregiver should bring evidence to the vaccination site.
“It requires a medical note,” says Nathan Fletcher, the county supervisor. “A doctor has to certify and verify it and have to produce it at each of our sites when they get to an appointment.”
The health alert network guidelines also state that the letter must use the term “informal caregiver” and must be from the person being treated by the physician.
The new requirements open vaccines to millions of people in California. According to the CDC, 20% of Californians over the age of 45 say they act as caregivers for a friend or family member.
This includes approximately 250,000 people in San Diego who have loved people with Alzheimer’s or Dementia.
“It’s a blessing to be recognized and vaccinated now,” says Adrienne Pierre, who cares for her mother, 86-year-old Rosemary. She received the vaccine as an informal caregiver earlier this month.
“It’s not about me. It’s about (keeping) my mother safe,” she explains.
“I’m used to seeing my parents almost daily,” says Beth Klareich, who helps care for her parents Nancy and Herschel, but hasn’t been vaccinated yet. “It would be a huge game changer for all of us in terms of their care and quality of life.”
He worries that the vague definition will allow some people to take advantage of the program and “skip the line” to get a vaccine. But Martin says he doesn’t expect this to happen too often and it’s a worthwhile risk if it means people can get the care they need.
“As for me, anyone who gets the vaccine will be positive for the aging community,” Martin says. “It will help us support our work to try to eliminate this terrible pandemic that is affecting so many people.”