California is opening up COVID-19 vaccines on Monday to a new group: those age 16 to 64 with disabilities or with qualifying health conditions that put them at greater risk of severe illness or death if they become infected. The state estimates 4.4 million people fall within this category, but due to limited vaccine supply not everyone will be able to get inoculated immediately. People with one of the following 10 conditions deemed “severe” by the state are eligible: cancer; chronic kidney disease of stage 4 or above; chronic pulmonary disease; Down syndrome; weakened immune system due to solid organ transplant; pregnancy; sickle cell disease; heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies (but not hypertension); severe obesity; and Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
