{"id":53123,"date":"2021-01-21T07:46:47","date_gmt":"2021-01-21T12:46:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=53123"},"modified":"2021-01-21T07:46:47","modified_gmt":"2021-01-21T12:46:47","slug":"type-1-diabetes-isnt-getting-covid-vaccine-priority-experts-are-outraged","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=53123","title":{"rendered":"Type 1 Diabetes Isn\u2019t Getting COVID Vaccine Priority. Experts are Outraged."},"content":{"rendered":"

Experts demand \u201cimmediate revision\u201d to vaccine policy for Type 1 diabetes<\/em><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re an American with Type 1 diabetes and you\u2019ve tried to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine, you may have been surprised to learn that you are not considered a \u201chigh risk\u201d individual and that you are not eligible for vaccine priority. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still considers Type 2 diabetes a higher risk than Type 1. The problem is that this determination conflicts with the science, and experts are calling for immediate change.<\/p>\n

The Lancet<\/em>, one of the world\u2019s most prestigious medical journals, has published a letter<\/a> this week demanding \u201can immediate revision by the CDC\u201d and other authorities, in order to place individuals with Type 1 diabetes in the same high-risk category as those with Type 2. Among the letter\u2019s contributors were two Vanderbilt University doctors, colleagues of the researchers that have produced some of the most convincing evidence demonstrating the high risks of COVID-19 to people with T1D.<\/p>\n

The Lancet<\/em> is just one of several major sources to call for this change in recent days. On January 13, the American Diabetes Association sent a formal letter<\/a> to the CDC similarly arguing for \u201cimmediate steps to update CDC\u2019s guidance.\u201d The letter, authored by Dr. Robert Gabbay, the ADA\u2019s Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, was co-signed by leaders from most the country\u2019s significant diabetes organizations, including JDRF, the Diabetes Leadership Council, and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology.<\/p>\n

“The new science leaves little doubt that there should be no distinction between individuals with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus, given the common, heightened risk both groups face for the most severe health outcomes of COVID-19.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new science in question refers to three different studies, performed in Scotland<\/a>, England<\/a> and Tennessee<\/a>, all of which found that the risks of severe illness and death from COVID-19 were both highly elevated in patients with Type 1 diabetes and substantially similar to the risks suffered by patients with Type 2 diabetes. There seems to be no serious contrary evidence.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, at the moment the CDC distinguishes between the two conditions, advising that adults with Type 2 diabetes \u201care at an increased risk,\u201d whereas those with Type 1 \u201cmight be<\/em> at an increased risk\u201d (emphasis added). Other conditions that officially \u201cmight\u201d pose an increased risk include several exceedingly common conditions, including hypertension and overweight (BMI > 25), which affect tens of millions of American adults. There are about 1.6 million Americans with Type 1 diabetes.<\/p>\n

We first put forth our own argument for T1D vaccine priority in December: Why People with Type 1 Diabetes Should Get Priority for COVID-19 Vaccines<\/a>. Since then several other media organizations have joined the chorus, including PBS News Hour<\/a>. Medscape\u2019s Miriam Tucker recently reported<\/a> on the mounting pressure that the CDC is facing on the issue.\u00a0The CDC\u2019s recommendations are not binding, and states and other local authorities ultimately have discretion on how they administer the vaccines they have in their possession. Several states\u2014including California, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia\u2014have already jumped out in front of the CDC and designated Type 1 diabetes a \u201chigh risk\u201d condition. JDRF has uploaded a very thorough guide to advocacy on this topic<\/a>, including advice for how you can contribute yourself.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, as we await vaccine distribution, distancing and hygiene remain paramount for people with diabetes. The Vanderbilt University study concluded with a \u201ccall on our colleagues to emphasize the importance of social distancing measures and hand hygiene, with particular emphasis on patients with diabetes, including those in the most vulnerable communities whom our study affirms will face the most severe impact.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":437,"featured_media":53052,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1587],"tags":[10062],"yoast_head":"\nType 1 Diabetes Isn\u2019t Getting COVID Vaccine Priority. 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