by Howard Chabner, 48hills – excerpt – download the letter
January 24, 2021
Dear Mayor Breed, Board President Walton and Supervisors:
First, credit where credit is due.Mayor Breed, you and the SF Department of Public Health have made some smart, prudent decisions about lockdowns, and about closing and reopening businesses, functions and activities.You’ve implemented a strong mask policy.These actions have saved lives and reduced serious illness.San Francisco’s Covid 19 death rate is low for a city of its size. Thank you.
I’m writing, unfortunately, about something not so good. Unconscionable, in fact.
San Francisco’s COVID vaccination policy prioritizes healthy, able-bodied people 65 and older over high-risk individuals below age 65, including individuals below 65 with major disabilities and health conditions. This policy is based on guidance from the State of California and the CDC.
This policy means that people younger than 65 with muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, Down syndrome, primary progressive multiple sclerosis, other autoimmune diseases, Huntington disease, Parkinson’s disease, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, Gaucher disease, and others at high risk of contracting COVID and at high risk of severe illness or death if they do contract it, will have to wait longer — and depending upon vaccine supply, often far longer — to be vaccinated than healthy, able-bodied people 65 and older who have no significant medical conditions.
The policy also does not take caregivers into account, which is wrong both for the caregivers themselves and for individuals who rely on them…
San Francisco must immediately change its policy to very highly prioritize:
- People of any age with specified chronic medical conditions, including but not limited to ALS, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Huntington disease, sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, and Down syndrome. People of any age with other specified chronic medical conditions should be placed in this category if they can demonstrate by compelling medical evidence that they are at great risk of severe health consequences, including death, if they contract the virus.
- Disabled people of any age who rely on caregivers coming to their home for assistance with activities of daily living.
- Caregivers of any age, regardless of whether they are from government agencies or programs, private agencies, hired directly by disabled clients, or are family members of the individual for whom they are caring…
Howard Chabner, is a disability rights activist and retired lawyer…(more)
download the letter. Supportive comments are appreciated on the source site.