CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A list of COVID vaccine-eligible pre-existing conditions has been expanded in West Virginia, Gov. Jim Justice announced on Monday.
Justice announced the expansion at his daily coronavirus briefing Monday while also stating vaccinations are available to all essential workers.
As a result, vaccinations are now available to all West Virginians age 16 and older with any of the following pre-existing medical conditions: Asthma, Diabetes Mellitus, Chronic kidney disease, Heart disease, Immunosuppression, Lung fibrosis, Blood disorders, Liver disease, COPD, Neurological disorder, High Blood Pressure, and Chronic infectious disease like HIV.
These are in addition to the pre-existing conditions or situations Gov. Justice previously announced as vaccine-eligible: Down syndrome, Intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caretakers, Caretakers of those with congenital or acquired disease, Organ or bone marrow transplant, Obesity (BMI > 35), Sickle cell anemia, Cystic fibrosis, and Pregnancy.
Dr. Clay Marsh, state coronavirus czar said the move to expand vaccinations to all essential workers regardless of age, as defined in Executive Order 9-20, is an important step.
“This is helping make sure that we keep our businesses open, keep our hospitals and clinics open, keep our utilities working and perform other vital services and functions that are so important,” Marsh said.
Justice added that, starting next week, pharmacies, Federally Qualified Health Centers, large health system clinics, and primary care clinics will begin offering vaccines to their own lists of recipients to ensure that all West Virginians who want a vaccine are able to be vaccinated as expeditiously as possible, a release said.
All West Virginians who wish to be vaccinated are still encouraged to pre-register at vaccinate.wv.gov to help schedule the earliest possible appointment.
West Virginia has successfully administered 635,801 doses after receiving a total allotment of 656,270 doses from the federal government to date; an overall administration rate of 96.9%. 245,196 second doses of a vaccine have been administered.
Marsh said the state is committed to following the plan by President Joe Biden of getting vaccines available to all Americans by May 1.