A few weeks ago when the New York State Department of Health announced they were opening a series of state-run COVID-19 Vaccination Centers across the state, including one on the south campus of the University at Buffalo, they still had not released what medical conditions people needed to have in order to qualify to get the vaccine.

While a lot of the eligibility criteria are still unknown, according to reporting by WKBW, the state has released the list of co-morbidities that will make you eligible.

Starting on Monday, February 15th, if you have one of these conditions, you are next in line to be eligible to obtain the vaccine:

  • Cancer (current or in remission, including 9/11-related cancers)
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Pulmonary Disease, including but not limited to, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma (moderate-to-severe), pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and 9/11 related pulmonary diseases
  • Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities including Down Syndrome
  • Heart conditions, including but not limited to heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, or hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) including but not limited to solid organ transplant or from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, use of other immune weakening medicines, or other causes
  • Severe Obesity (BMI 40 kg/m2), Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
  • Pregnancy
  • Sickle cell disease or Thalassemia
  • Type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus
  • Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
  • Neurologic conditions including but not limited to Alzheimer's Disease or dementia
  • Liver disease

This list isn't all-inclusive and the Health Dept. has stated that this list may change as do more research.

If you have any of the conditions on this list and think you qualify for the vaccine, you can visit the website that New York State has set-up a website where people can determine if they are eligible, and schedule an appointment to receive the vaccine. You can find a link to that website here.

If you have questions about what to do, or if you are eligible, you can call the New York State Department of Health at 833-697-4829

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