{"id":473960,"date":"2021-02-15T01:54:17","date_gmt":"2021-02-15T09:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disabilityvisibilityproject.com\/?p=473960"},"modified":"2026-02-12T17:19:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T01:19:18","slug":"joint-letter-to-community-vaccine-advisory-committee-ca-department-of-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disabilityvisibilityproject.com\/2021\/02\/15\/joint-letter-to-community-vaccine-advisory-committee-ca-department-of-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Joint Letter to Community Vaccine Advisory Committee, CA Department of Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

Below is a joint letter written and organized by the Disability Justice League-Bay Area<\/a> submitted as public comment to the Community Vaccine Advisory Committee<\/a>, <\/span>California Department of Public Health, on February 14, 2021. The <\/span>Disability Justice League-Bay Area<\/a> is QTIPOC disabled group committed to cross-movement organizing through direct action, engagement, and critical advocacy.\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

The letter responds to the new guidance regarding vaccine prioritization<\/a> by the state that would allow certain high risk populations to be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting March 15, 2021. The letter outlines several concerns such as\u00a0 implementation, timeline, and systemic barriers that will disproportionately harm multiply marginalized high risk people. The letter also includes recommendations such as access to vaccination from all sites (not exclusively from a healthcare provider) and the appointment of a representative from the disability justice<\/a> community to the Community Vaccine Advisory Committee.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is the third letter in a series by a coalition of groups. Here is the second letter submitted as public comment<\/a> on December 22, 2020 from FatRose.org.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Take Action<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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  1. If YOU have questions or concerns on vaccine equity, you can send your written public comments<\/strong> to the Community Vaccine Advisory Committee: COVID19VaccineOutreach@cdph.ca.gov<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. You can attend their upcoming meetings<\/strong>\u00a0on February 17, March 3, March 17, 2021 and review their past meetings’ presentations, agendas, and written public comments here: https:\/\/www.cdph.ca.gov\/Programs\/CID\/DCDC\/Pages\/COVID-19\/Community-Vaccine-Advisory-Committee.aspx<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Send a message to the Governor<\/strong><\/a> and your local elected representatives<\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  4. Share your story on social media<\/strong> with the hashtags #HighRiskCA<\/a> and #NoBodyIsDisposable<\/a> and tag @GavinNewsom<\/a> and @CAPublicHealth<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Are you delaying important medical care, treatment, or testing while you wait for the vaccine? Participate in community surveys<\/strong><\/a> on delayed care or avoidable death by the No Body Is Disposable coalition<\/a> and share with others.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Additional Resources<\/h4>\n

    COVID-19 Vaccine Prioritization Dashboard<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities<\/a><\/p>\n

    Action Toolkit for Vaccine Equity,<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0Senior Disability Action, No Body Is Disposable Coalition, the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers and others<\/p>\n

    Background on vaccine access in California<\/strong><\/a>, No Body Is Disposable Coalition<\/p>\n

    Collection of news, resources, and Tweets from #HighRiskCA<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Whose Underlying Conditions Count for Priority in Getting the Vaccine?<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0Liz Bowen, Scientific American<\/p>\n

    Elevated COVID-19 Mortality Risk Among Recipients of Home and Community-Based Services: A Case for Prioritizing Vaccination for This Population<\/strong><\/a>, Dr. H. Stephen Kaye, DREDF<\/p>\n

    New Analysis of COVID-19 Mortality Risk for Californians with Disabilities Under Age 65,<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0Dr. H. Stephen Kaye, DREDF<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

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    Community Vaccine Advisory Committee<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    California Department of Public Health<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    COVID19VaccineOutreach@cdph.ca.gov<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

    Dear California Department of Public Health and California Community Vaccine Advisory Committee Members and Staff:<\/span><\/p>\n

    1) We appreciate that California state leadership has <\/span>finally provided a date<\/span><\/a> when disabled people, fat people, and people with specific medical conditions can get vaccinated. However, the latest plan fails to communicate how it will meet the needs of our communities and must be further articulated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    2) Time is <\/span>not<\/span><\/i> on our side. March 15th marks <\/span>more than a full year of delayed care<\/b> for many people who are fat or have high risk disabilities and medical conditions, including many chronically ill and immunocompromised individuals, [hereafter called \u201cpeople with high risk disabilities\/conditions\u201d]\u00a0 during which time critical routine care continues to be delayed such as cancer screenings and chemotherapy treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n