People 55 and older, with one health condition eligible for COVID-19 vaccine

(WWLP) – Massachusetts is one step closer to everyone being able to get a vaccine with the next phase of eligibility beginning Monday morning.

Everyone ages 55 and up and people with one health condition that puts them at higher risk for COVID-19 complications can now receive a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. Those include conditions like asthma, cancer, and heart disease.

Individuals with one of the following conditions are eligible on Monday, April 5th:

• Cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic lung diseases, including COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma (moderate-to-severe), interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension
• Dementia or other neurological conditions
• Diabetes (type 1 or type 2)
• Down syndrome
• Heart conditions (such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies or hypertension)
• HIV infection
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system)
• Liver disease
• Overweight and obesity
• Pregnancy
• Sickle cell disease or thalassemia
• Smoking, current or former
• Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant
• Stroke or cerebrovascular disease, which affects blood flow to the brain
• Substance use disorders

Newly eligible people should use the state’s scheduling website to get an appointment at a mass vaccination site – or you can schedule one through the federal pharmacy program at select CVS and Walgreens.

All individuals ages 16 and older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday April 19.