Thousands More Now Eligible For COVID-19 Vaccine In San Diego County

On Monday, March 15, thousands of more San Diego County residents became eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Phase 1C is the latest group to be eligible for the vaccine. People who qualify for the group are between the ages of 16 and 64 and have certain health conditions, disabilities, or work environments that put them at a higher risk for COVID-19.

NBC7 spoke with a few San Diegans who are now eligible to receive the vaccine.

"I'm really happy going to be happy that he'll be safe and we won't have to worry as much," Chi Vargas, whose son Jack has Down Syndrome, told NBC7.

Down Syndrome is one of the health conditions that is listed in Phase 1C's Eligible High-Risk Medical Conditions and Disabilities list.

Other health conditions listed on the county's website include:

• Cancer, current with weakened immune system­­
• Chronic kidney disease, stage 4 or above
• Chronic pulmonary disease, oxygen-dependent
• Solid-organ transplant, leading to a weakened immune system
• Pregnancy
• Sickle cell disease
• Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies (but not hypertension)
• Severe obesity (Body Mass Index ≥ 40 kg/m2)
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus with hemoglobin A1c level greater than 7.5%

You can find more information about getting the COVID-19 vaccine in San Diego County here.

Photo: Getty Images