Coronavirus vaccine: Not all diabetics are equal under Pennsylvania vaccination protocols

Angie Lankford has dedicated eight years of her life to finding a cure for her son’s diabetes, but her fight now is to get him a place in line for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Who qualifies to be near the top of that list has caused an uproar in Pennsylvania, as smokers rank higher than teachers, and Type 1 diabetics, like Lankford’s son, fall lower on the priority list than Type 2 diabetics.

“When a Type 1 gets sick, my son, his blood sugars usually skyrocket, and it becomes very difficult to manage his blood sugar. When something is going around school, it might take a kid 24 hours to recover; it would take my son a week. This is the same way with the coronavirus,” Lankford said. “They’re not bouncing back.”

Pennsylvania’s Department of Health is following CDC guidelines as to which groups are prioritized for the vaccination, according to a spokesperson.

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