Some fitness trainers got vaccine as 'health care workers'

[dalton99a]

https://hosted.ap.org/article/97bf7d35a88b1e09688cd96ad7348371/some-fitness-trainers-got-vaccine-health-care-workers

Feb. 12, 2021 5:27 PM EST
Some fitness trainers got vaccine as 'health care workers'

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Some fitness trainers in California were able to get vaccinated against COVID-19 after state health officials created a loophole that helped them qualify as health care workers.

In January, the California Department of Public Health released updated guidelines on vaccination allocation that classified outdoor recreation as health care, the first tier eligible to get the vaccine along with people over 75. Some fitness clubs jumped at the chance of getting their employees vaccinated, KGO-TV reported Thursday.

"Outdoor recreation was included in Health Care (Health Care/Public Health sector index 1, line item 22). As such, we shared that information with our employees so they could begin the process of receiving vaccinations,” Annie Appel, Senior Executive Vice President at the Bay Club Company, said in a statement.

But last Friday, state health officials updated the rules and they no longer include outdoor recreation as Health Care, Appel said.

Kimi Hori, a fitness instructor in Santa Clara County, said she received an email on Jan. 7 telling her she was eligible to receive the vaccine and to make an appointment through their health care provider. But she said she decided not to take it.

“Most people go into fitness because they want to help others but when you’re then taking a vaccine away from other people, you’re not helping others you’re helping yourself. For me, that’s a huge contradiction,” Hori said.

She said she knows of about two dozen fitness trainers who have received the vaccine, including five under the age of 40 who were vaccinated this week despite of the rule change last week. Yet, her 73-year-old mom has still not gotten a vaccine, she said.

[marble falls]

1. Mixed feelings. Sometimes I think it's better to hit all the speaders first as well as HCWs.

[Demsrule86]

2. My daughter has a trainer that does physical therapy so I have no issues with this.

[Yonnie3]

3. Yep, I had PT from a therapist who mainly did training.

She said training paid better.

I don't object to people who have jobs that could likely spread the virus getting vaccine before me. I am old and susceptible but can isolate and be careful. I don't like it, but I can eat, drink, and be housed with minimal contacts. They need to buy food, pay rent, etc., so I don't begrudge them an early dose.