Starting Monday, Kentucky is expanding the number of people in group 1C who will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. The announcement comes after the CDC introduced a new list of conditions that may put adults at an increased risk for severe COVID-19 illness.
Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, said the state will add that list into group 1C, meaning people with the following conditions will qualify for a vaccine beginning Monday:
• 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
While smokers are considered at-risk for severe COVID-19 infection, Stack said they are not among the group eligible for a vaccine in 1C.
To determine which phase of Kentucky’s vaccination campaign you fall in, click here.
Click here to find vaccine sites near you, or click here to see vaccines sites statewide.
