Alameda County expands eligibility to receive vaccines

Alameda County on Wednesday extended coronavirus vaccinations to everyone at least 16 years old, jumping a week ahead of California’s eligibility expansion, but only in 12 ZIP codes across Oakland, Hayward, San Leandro and San Lorenzo, where thousands of COVID19 cases have devastated communities.

Statewide, people aged 16 to 49 won’t become eligible for vaccinations until April 15. But in the targeted Alameda County ZIP codes, county officials said there was no time to waste.

Those areas have had 43,106 coronavirus cases — an average of 3,592 cases per ZIP code — records show. By contrast, the ZIP code for Oakland’s tony Rockridge area has had just 249 cases.

“Many of our essential, frontline workers and their families live in these priority ZIP codes — often in crowded and multigenerational households,” said Neetu Balram, spokeswoman for the Alameda County Public Health Department.

The rapid expansion helps “communities that have borne a disproportionate burden throughout the pandemic,” Balram said.

Alameda County is the second in the Bay Area to extend vaccinations to people as young as 16. But Contra Costa County, which took the step on March 30, did not limit it to geographic areas, instead making all county residents 16 and older eligible.

Moe Almahon, who works at Rancho Market and Produce on Oakland’s Fruitvale Avenue, said he appreciates Alameda County’s decision to move more quickly.

“I think everybody should get vaccinated,” he said. “It’s good.”

The 94601 ZIP code, where the Rancho Market is located, is home to many essential workers like Almahon, who can’t work from home as people in many other careers are able to do. It’s become Alameda County’s hardesthit area, with 5,641 cases of COVID.

Almahon said he hasn’t gotten the shot yet, although grocery employees have been eligible for more than a month by virtue of their frontline jobs.

“I just didn’t have the time,” he said.

The newly eligible ZIP codes are 94601, 94603, 94605, 94606, 94607, 94621, 94541, 94544, 94545, 94577, 94578 and 94580.

Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle Nurse Anna Briggs (background right) chats with a patient with before administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the Center for Empowering Refugees in Oakland.