DPH COVID-19 Update: Vaccination for People at Higher Risk; Revised Recommendations for the Fully Vaccinated March 16, 2021 CDC, COVID-19, Disabilities, healthcare workers, High-Risk Medical Conditions, LA County, LAC DPH, LAHAN, Quarantine, Vaccination, Vaccination Hub, Vaccine 1660 Key Messages Effective today, County residents with one or more eligible high-risk medical conditions or disabilities as well as those who live or work in congregate living spaces are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination; however, vaccine supply remains very limited. The CDC has released recommendations for fully vaccinated persons including revised recommendations for quarantine in healthcare and non-healthcare settings. New LAC DPH guidance for the public is now available at After You are Fully Vaccinated. COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility for People with High-Risk Medical Conditions or Disabilities The state has now opened vaccine eligibility to persons aged 16-64 years of age with one or more medical conditions or disabilities that put them at higher risk for serious COVID-19 illness, specifically: Cancer, current with weakened immune system Chronic kidney disease, stage 4 or above Chronic pulmonary disease, oxygen dependent Down syndrome Solid organ transplant, leading to a weakened immune system Pregnancy Sickle cell disease Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies (but not hypertension) Severe obesity (Body Mass Index ≥ 40 kg/m2) Type 2 diabetes mellitus with hemoglobin A1c level greater than 7.5% People who, as a result of a developmental or other significant high-risk disability, meet one or more of the following criteria: A COVID-19 infection is likely to result in severe life-threatening illness or death; OR Acquiring COVID-19 will limit the individual’s ability to receive ongoing care or services vital to their well-being and survival; OR Providing adequate and timely COVID care will be particularly challenging as a result of the individual’s disability. See the CDPH Provider Bulletin for more information, including a fact sheet for patients. Below are some key points regarding this new phase of vaccine eligibility: Until the vaccine supply improves, there will not be enough appointments for all eligible persons and hardest hit communities are being prioritized when possible. Providers should use their clinical judgement to vaccinate individuals age 16-64 years who are deemed to be at the highest risk for morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 as a direct result of one or more of the eligible conditions. Providers who have been allocated vaccine are highly encouraged to vaccinate their own patients. Consider reaching out to your patients at high-risk of complications. County residents with an eligible high-risk condition or disability without access to documentation from a healthcare provider may self-attest that they have an eligible condition. The state is recommending that residents who meet these eligibility requirements first check-in with their healthcare providers, but that they also leverage pharmacies, myturn.ca.gov, or county portals to find appointments. In LA County, patients can visit VaccinateLACounty.com and click on "How to Make an Appointment" to look for an appointment, view eligibility and documentation requirements, and download a self-attestation template. Note: proof of residence in LA County is required. Advise patients who are 16 or 17 years of age to find an appointment at a location that offers Pfizer vaccine. Visit the Provider COVID-19 Vaccine Prioritization and Allocation webpage for the most current information. Fully Vaccinated Persons and Quarantine A person is considered fully vaccinated >2 weeks following the receipt of: the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) one dose of a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson/Janssen). The following recommendations have been updated since the LAHAN on February 18, 2021. Fully vaccinated persons who are a close contact to a confirmed COVID-19 case: Do not need to quarantine or test as long as they are asymptomatic. [Note that the 90-day window for exemption from quarantine has been removed.] Should be instructed to monitor their health for 14 days after the last contact with the infected person. If they develop symptoms consistent with possible COVID-19, they should be instructed to self-isolate pending clinical evaluation and SARS-CoV-2 testing, if indicated. Fully vaccinated healthcare workers with high-risk exposures: Do not need to be restricted from work following their exposure as long as they are asymptomatic. [Note that this is now regardless of staffing shortages.] Should continue to follow all current infection prevention and control recommendations including source control, daily monitoring, and testing as outlined in the LAC DPH Healthcare Personnel Monitoring guidelines. CDC Resources: Public Health Recommendations for Vaccinated Persons Updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination Science Brief Visit the LAC DPH COVID-19 Hub and Vaccination Hub