The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in California has been much slower than anticipated.
According to a state tracker, just over 780,000 doses of the 2.9 million received by California had been administered as of Tuesday. That included nearly 200,000 in the region that includes the Bay Area. But officials are hoping things ramp up soon with some recent changes and recommendations.
On Tuesday, the Trump administration recommended that vaccines be administered for anyone over 65 years, and for doses to no longer be held back for those who need their second shot of the two-dose regimen. That change was in line with President-elect Joe Biden’s plan: He said Friday that he would quickly release all available doses after he takes office on Jan. 20. Biden received his second dose Monday.
California officials have made recommendations to local health departments about the priority order of the vaccine rollout, so Bay Area residents will need to check their own county’s specific vaccination plans for details:
Here’s what we know so far about when and where Bay Area residents can get their vaccines. You can also stay up to date on the vaccine rollout across the state and country via The Chronicle’s Vaccine Tracker, and visit the California Department of Public Health vaccine website for more information.
Who is currently being vaccinated?
California is still in Phase 1A of the rollout, which includes about 2.4 million health care workers and long-term care residents. This phase will likely last through the rest of January. The state’s original recommendation was to vaccinate in order of workers’ risk of exposure to the virus. But last Thursday, the California Department of Public Health issued looser guidelines, including a recommendation to local health departments allowing all health care workers in Phase 1A to receive their shots. The group is separated into three tiers:
Tier 1:
Acute care, psychiatric, and correctional facility hospitals
Skilled nursing facilities
First responders (paramedics, emergency medical technicians)
Dialysis centers
Tier 2:
Intermediate care facilities
Home health care and in-home supportive services
Community health workers
Public health field staff
Primary and urgent care clinics
Tier 3
Specialty clinics
Laboratory workers
Dental and other oral health clinics
Pharmacy staff not working in settings at higher tiers
Who is next?
When vaccines have been made available to anyone in Phase 1A who wants one, the state is allowing the next group, Phase 1B, to begin. Some counties have already begun immunizing this group, but many Bay Area counties are still in 1A and don’t anticipate moving into the next phase until the end of this month or early February. This phase includes about 15 million elderly individuals and essential workers, split into two tiers:
Tier 1:
• Individuals 75 and older
• Employees at risk of exposure in the following sectors:
• Education
• Child care
• Emergency services
• Food and agriculture
Tier 2:
• Individuals 65-74 years of age
• Employees at risk of exposure in the following sectors:
• Critical manufacturing
• Industrial, commercial, residential, and sheltering facilities and services
• Transportation and logistics
• Incarcerated and homeless individuals
Who comes after that?
Phase 1C, estimated to start in March, will include individuals 50 and older, those with underlying health conditions and other employees in sectors that puts them at risk for exposure. This includes:
• Individuals 50-64 years of age
• Individuals 16-49 years of age with health conditions that put them at risk for severe COVID-19 illness. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these conditions are chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity (body mass index of 30 or higher), weakened immune system from solid organ transplant, serious heart conditions, sickle cell disease and type 2 diabetes.
• Employees at risk of exposure in the following sectors:
• Water and wastewater
• Defense
• Energy
• Chemical and hazardous materials
• Communications and IT
• Financial services
• Government operations
• Community-based government work
I don’t fit in any of those categories, so when can I get my vaccine?
You’ll likely be able to get your vaccine during Phase 2, which is estimated to take place in the summer and fall. This group will include anyone 16 and older who wants to be vaccinated.
What about my kids?
Currently, two vaccines have been approved in the U.S. and are available, made by Pfizer and Moderna. The Pfizer vaccine is recommended for individuals 16 and older, and the Moderna vaccine for people 18 and older. No COVID-19 vaccines are approved yet for children because the initial trials included only adults, and a CDC report found that coronavirus symptoms are generally milder in children than adults.
Where will I be able to get vaccinated?
Health care workers are being notified by their workplaces and most are getting vaccinated by their employers or health care providers. Free vaccines are being administered to residents and staff in long-term care settings by CVS and Walgreens.
Individuals in later phases will be able to get their shots from their primary care providers, pharmacies and some people may be able to go through their employers. This week, state and local officials announced the opening of several mass vaccination sites in Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego. Some sites are opening in the Bay Area, but initially only to priority groups. Counties anticipate in the next few weeks to open up the sites to the broader public and start immunizing Phase 1B.
Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KellieHwang
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January 13, 2021 at 02:40AM
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When and where can I get my coronavirus vaccination in the Bay Area? - San Francisco Chronicle
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