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People with Type 1 Diabetes Move Ahead in Line for COVID-19 Vaccination

Updated: 8/13/21 10:00 pmPublished: 4/5/21
By Eliza Skoler

By Eliza Skoler

Have you gotten your COVID vaccine yet? New CDC guidelines recommend that people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and obesity, be given priority to receive COVID vaccines.

Wonderful news – if you have type 1 diabetes and have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine, you may soon be eligible in your state.

Last week, the CDC updated its list of medical conditions that put someone at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. The list now includes both type 1 and type 2 diabetes; previously only type 2 diabetes and obesity were considered to be high-risk. Read our article to learn about how having diabetes affects COVID-19 illness.

According to the national guidelines, people with diabetes – no matter the type – should be vaccinated during the third stage (Phase 1c) of vaccine rollouts. However, each state is in charge of its own vaccine distribution, so when you become eligible will depend on where you live. The New York Times has two helpful resources: find out if you are currently eligible for a vaccine in your county, or see how vaccine distribution is working in each state.

No matter where you live, we encourage people with diabetes or obesity to talk to their healthcare team about getting the vaccine as soon as possible. To learn about the COVID vaccines, read "What You Should Know About COVID-19 Vaccines and Diabetes."

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About the authors

Eliza Skoler joined The diaTribe Foundation in 2019, after graduating cum laude from Carleton College with a degree in Biology. Her undergraduate studies focused on human biology and neuroscience, and... Read the full bio »