February 12, 2021 February 12, 2021 Governor Charles Baker State House, Room 280 24 Beacon Street Boston, MA 02144 Secretary Marylou Sudders Executive OfFice oF Health and Human Services 1 Ashburton Place, 11th Floor Boston, MA 02108 Dear Governor Baker and Secretary Sudders: We write today to urge you to restore moderate to severe asthma to the list oF illnesses which constitute a co-morbidity For COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration purposes. The CDC currently lists moderate to severe asthma as an illness that could present an increased risk For “severe illness From the virus that causes COVID-19” (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need- extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html). In 2019, Springfield was described as the nation’s number one asthma capitol by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (https://www.aafa.org/asthma-capitals-top-100-cities-ranking/). We believe the erroneous removal of moderate to severe asthma From the Massachusetts list oF eligible co-morbidities for phase two of the vaccination distribution must be revisited, especially when it is such a common experience among residents in the Commonwealth. Our own Massachusetts Department of Public Health has been engaged on multiple Fronts with combatting asthma in the Commonwealth, including community-based and medical interventions. Prioritizing asthma as a co-morbidity is a public health and racial equity issue. According to the MDPH, the “prevalence of current asthma in Massachusetts was higher among Black, Non-Hispanic adults than White, non-Hispanic adults.” (https://www.mass.gov/service-details/statistics-about- asthma). We recogniZe the importance oF addressing the disproportionate impact of moderate to severe asthma on black and brown communities in the Commonwealth and request that it be prioritized For vaccine distribution as a COVID-19 co-morbidity. Given the high rate oF asthma in the Commonwealth, particularly among communities of color, restoring it would contribute to the state’s commitment to incorporate racial equity in the statewide vaccine roll- out, while continuing to deny it may increase the risk For individuals experiencing moderate to severe asthma and reinforce and expand the existing disparity. February 12, 2021 We look Forward to your prompt response to this issue. Carlos GonZaleZ, State Representative Mindy Domb, State Representative 10th Hampden District 3rd Hampshire District Brian Ashe, State Representative Christine Barber, State Representative 2nd Hampden District 34th Middlesex District Natalie Blais, State Representative Anthony Cabral, State Representative 1st Franklin District 13th Bristol District Linda Dean Campbell, State Representative Pete Capano, State Representative 2nd Hampshire District 11th Essex District Daniel R. Carey, State Representative Michelle Ciccolo, State Representative 5th Essex District 15th Middlesex District Mike Connolly, State Representative Edward Coppinger, State Representative 26th Middlesex District 10th SufFolk District Claire D. Cronin, State Representative Marcos Devers, State Representative 11th Plymouth District 16th Essex District Patricia DufFy, State Representative Lori Ehrlich, State Representative 5th Hampden District 8th Essex District Nika Elugardo, State Representative Kimberly Ferguson, State Representative 15th SufFolk District 1st Worcester District Denise Garlick, State Representative Jessica Giannino, State Representative 13th NorFolk District 16th SufFolk District Kevin Honan, State Representative Kay Khan, State Representative 17th SufFolk District 11th Middlesex District David LeBeouF, State Representative Jay Livingstone, State Representative 7th Worcester District 8th SufFolk District Christina Minicucci, State Representative LiZ Miranda, State Representative 14th Essex District 5th SufFolk District Frank Moran, State Representative Brian Murray, State Representative 17th Essex District 10th Worcester District Brandy Fluker Oakley, State Representative Jacob Oliveira, State Representative 12th SufFolk District 7th Hampden District February 12, 2021 Steven Owens, State Representative Alice Peisch, State Representative 29th Middlesex District 6th Middlesex District Edward Phillips, State Representative Maria Robinson, State Representative 8th NorFolk District 14th NorFolk District David Rogers, State Representative Lindsay Sabadosa, State Representative 24th Middlesex District 1st Hampshire District Jon Santiago, State Representative Thomas Stanley, State Representative 9th SufFolk District 9th Middlesex District Chynah Tyler, State Representative Erika Uyterhoeven, State Representative 7th SufFolk District 27th Middlesex District Timothy R. Whelan, State Representative Donald Wong, State Representative 1st Barnstable District 9th Essex District Steven G. Xiarhos, State Representative Jo Comerford, State Senator 5th Barnstable District Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester District Brendan Crighton, State Senator Diana DiZoglio, State Senator Third Essex District First Essex District James B. Eldridge, State Senator Barry Finegold, State Senator Middlesex and Worcester District Second Essex and Middlesex District Adam GomeZ, State Senator Eric Lesser, State Senator Hampden District 1st Hampden & Hampshire District Susan L. Moran, State Senator Patrick O’Connor, State Senator Plymouth and Barnstable District Plymouth & NorFolk District .