The Peru Gazette

Clinton County Health Department Announcement 

Plattsburgh, February 16, 2021. On February 5th Governor Cuomo announced a list of comorbidities and underlying conditions that New York State will use to determine eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine. New Yorkers who have one of these conditions became eligible for the vaccine beginning February 15th. The Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) and area providers are preparing for this expansion in vaccine distribution. 

Adults of any age with the following conditions due to increased risk of moderate or severe illness or death from the virus that causes COVID-19 are eligible for 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; 

 Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher) or Severe Obesity (BMI 40 kg/m2); 

 Pregnancy; 

 Sickle cell disease or Thalassemia; 

 Type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus; 

 Cerebrovascular disease (conditions affecting blood vessels and blood supply to the brain); 

 Neurologic conditions including but not limited to Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia; 

 Liver disease. 

Individuals who have one of these conditions will need to verify their eligibility when registering for their vaccination. “CCHD has been collaborating with other local health departments in the North Country Region and speaking with representatives at the state-run vaccination site,” stated John Kanoza, Director of Public Health in Clinton County. “We want to make the process as easy as possible without creating barriers to receiving the vaccine.” 

A Certificate of Eligibility is completed with each registration; as part of this, residents will certify their membership in a priority vaccine group. A doctor’s letter is not necessary. However, if individuals have questions about whether their medical condition qualifies as a co-morbid condition, they should contact their primary care provider to discuss this. 

“At this time, CCHD has not received any additional vaccine allotment for this specific group from the State,” explained Mr. Kanoza. “We encourage all eligible residents to schedule vaccinations at the state site or through a local pharmacy. When CCHD receives an allotment for this category we will open registration to you, our Clinton County Residents. We do not know yet when that will be, so if you can get in at another site, please do so.” 

To register for a vaccine, please visit https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/, call 1-833-NYS-4-VAX, or contact your local pharmacy. 

“I understand this process has been confusing and frustrating for many of us,” added Mr. Kanoza. “I ask you all to hang in there, we will receive more vaccine in the coming months, and we will be able to get that vaccine to you. CCHD will continue to communicate as we learn more.”