Doctors concerned over ‘honor system’ as COVID-19 vaccine eligibility expands

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) With millions of more adults now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, concerns are being raised that people who may not be eligible are jumping the line.

Santa Cruz County Deputy Health Officer Dr. David Ghilarducci tells KION that although they are expecting more vaccine supply in the next few weeks, supply is expected to go low in the next week since many are going to the community.

Those now eligible include people with severe medical conditions, disabilities and the homeless...but as demand for appointments increases, some worry that people in line for vaccines may be claiming medical conditions they do not have. Verification, however, is not required by the state.

"It's almost impossible for us to screen people for these conditions in the field like during a drive-through clinic or something. We just don't have any really functional means of doing that," says Ghilarducci.

"We're relying on the honor system in this case, we're not requiring doctors to provide a note or verification, there is a form that they can fill out but we realize that this could inundate doctors' offices and they may not have the capacity to do this."

However, Joey Crottogini with community health organization Homeless Persons Health Project says the honor system could be a good thing.

“I’m happy actually, that the state changed their guidance to not require the doctor’s note, sure it means people have to self attest that they have some type of medical condition, but I think that honor system is a good tool to more broadly vaccine the public at large," says Crottogini.

Crottogini says the organization is doing its part not just by providing vaccine clinics but by also working with other medical professionals and groups working with patients in the most vulnerable groups.

Crottogini says HPHP staff do their outreach by calling patients ahead if they are eligible and even driving some patients to their vaccine appointments.

“We’re screening them and making sure that they are who they’re saying they are and that they’re working at the places that they say they’re working, we check people’s ID," says Crottogini.

Doctor Ghilarducci says more mass vaccine clinics will be expanding.