The COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been difficult and is taking longer than expected, but Santa Clara County officials say they are seeing notable progress.
On Monday, the county announced that more than half of residents 75 years and older and 43.7% of those 65 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
This brings the county's total to 232,761 residents partially or fully vaccinated, constituting 14.5% of the county's population eligible for getting the vaccine (those 16 years and older).
County officials said this new milestone reflects "strong progress" toward their goal to get 85% of those 16 and older vaccinated by Aug. 1 of this year.
"It is heartening to see that as a county, we have made such great progress in vaccinating our older residents who are at very high risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19," said Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, the county's COVID-19 testing and vaccine officer.
Those 65 and older made up 81% of COVID-19 deaths and around 60% of hospitalizations, which is why they have been prioritized for the vaccine.
The next group of people prioritized and slated to get the vaccine starting March 15 are those ages 16-65 with at least one "severe health condition," state health officials announced on Friday.
Those conditions include cancer, Down syndrome, pregnancy, stage 4 or higher kidney disease, pulmonary diseases necessitating oxygen, a weakened immune system due to an organ transplant, sickle cell disease, obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart conditions like coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathies.
State guidelines allow counties to follow in similar suit, but Santa Clara County could delay vaccinations for the March 15 group at its own discretion.
In the past, the county waited to vaccinate those 65 years and older, despite the state giving the green light, because of low vaccine supply.
Fenstersheib said vaccine supply still remains a problem.
"This historic effort is saving lives, but we must continue to accelerate our work to reach our entire community, with particular focus on the communities most impacted by COVID-19," Fenstersheib said. "In addition, we need sufficient vaccine supply from the state and federal government to achieve our goal of widespread community protection."
Currently, those eligible for COVID-19 vaccination include all health care workers, those in long-term care facilities and those 65 years and older.
Residents can make an appointment by visiting the sccfreevax.org site or by calling 211 for assistance in multiple languages.
Comments
Registered user
Downtown North
on Feb 16, 2021 at 10:21 am
Registered user
on Feb 16, 2021 at 10:21 am
Good news! I hope it will go faster soon!
Registered user
Midtown
on Feb 17, 2021 at 1:51 pm
Registered user
on Feb 17, 2021 at 1:51 pm
@ "It is heartening to see that as a county, we have made such great progress in vaccinating our older residents who are at very high risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19," said Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, the county's COVID-19 testing and vaccine officer.
He must be joking. It's disappointing to see the SCC Health Dept Covid officer give his department such high praise and self-congratulations. SCC is actually doing a terrible, slow job getting shots in arms. They've been nothing but destructive both to our school openings and business communities, and thereby people's lives, with their overly strict, illogical, inconsistent "guidelines" (ie. obstacles). Many counties all over the country have prioritized and vaccinated teachers. SCC has done nothing of the sort! As PAUSD Superintendent Don Austin stated, "SCC is LAST to the table for vaccinating school employees. Will line up huge lobbying effort this week. Be prepared to join us. All teachers in CA should have the same opportunity at the same pace. #ThisIsWrong".
Registered user
Adobe-Meadow
on Feb 18, 2021 at 11:03 am
Registered user
on Feb 18, 2021 at 11:03 am
My health services are at the PAMC. This and other major health carriers were limited in their available shots. I could not get any reservation on their on-line system and waited for an hour to talk to someone who has me now scheduled next Week. And I am in the high risk category. I am disgusted with how this all has been handled. I feel like I was penalized for being a PAMC person. I know that the Kaiser people are in the same boat. Meanwhile a friend in Chicago get her shot at a Walmart - she does not have a big health carrier. How they ended up classifying people by health carrier needs to be reviewed as to who is pulling the strings.
Registered user
Adobe-Meadow
on Feb 19, 2021 at 11:18 am
Registered user
on Feb 19, 2021 at 11:18 am
I have a call from Sutter Health that they have not received any new vaccine and my scheduled appointment has been canceled. They will call me for a reschedule. In the meantime do not call my doctor since they are not in the loop for scheduling.
Registered user
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Feb 19, 2021 at 11:45 am
Registered user
on Feb 19, 2021 at 11:45 am
Interesting about Sutter. I'm due and have received no notice. Also, the article I read mentioned that supplies of Modena which the county's giving out is delayed but nothing about Pfizer which Sutter's using.
Interested to hear from other PAMF people.