Posted: | February 10, 2021 10:16 AM |
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From: | Senator Patrick J. Stefano |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Including Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes in Phase 1A of the Commonwealth's COVID-19 Vaccination Plan |
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation to add Type 1 diabetes to Phase 1A of the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 vaccination plan. Although multiple studies have shown the risk of both hospitalization and death from COVID-19 are higher for people with Type 1 diabetes than those with Type 2 diabetes, the CDC ranks Type 1 diabetes as a medication condition with a less significant risk of complications, thus placing them lower on the priority list for the COVID-19 vaccine. This prioritization differs significantly from other counties such as Great Britain, which considers both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes as having the same higher risk of complications, thereby equally prioritizing people with both types for vaccination. The Department of Health has chosen to keep the tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians living with Type 1 diabetes out of Phase 1A in its COVID-19 vaccination plan by placing them in Phase 1B, lower than those with Type 2 diabetes and smokers. As they recently testified to at a Senate public hearing, both the acting secretary and the state physician general acknowledge the CDC does not dictate how states prioritize individuals for vaccinations. This legislation will rectify that department’s decision and put individuals with Type 1 diabetes within Phase 1A for vaccination. I hope that you will join me in co-sponsoring this legislation to protect those at risk. If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact Jake Gery in my office jgery@pasen.gov. |
Introduced as SB345