Where other counties stand on requiring proof of vaccination

On Thursday, San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced the city will require full proof of vaccination against the coronavirus for indoor activities that involve eating, drinking or going to the gym — becoming the second major U.S. city after New York to issue a mandate, and the first to require patrons to be fully dosed. The mandate takes effect Aug. 20.

That raises the question: Will other Bay Area counties follow suit? Often the counties have acted in concert on health directives, like mask rules and (early in the pandemic) lockdown orders.

Here is what each Bay Area county said when asked whether it planned to follow San Francisco in its vaccination mandate:

Alameda: Neetu Balram, a spokesperson for the Alameda County Public Health Department, said the county has no current plans to issue a similar policy.

“We will monitor how these policies roll out in San Francisco and New York,” Balram said. “While vaccination continues to be the best protection against severe illness, emerging research shows vaccinated people may also spread the delta variant form of the virus that causes COVID-19. Businesses

can choose to implement vaccination verification systems to better protect their workers and patrons, but it shouldn’t replace requiring everyone to wear masks in indoor public settings, workplaces, and businesses.” Contra Costa: The county currently has no plans to implement a vaccination mandate. “But we are carefully monitoring local transmission data and will notify the public promptly if there is a change,” said Brittany Paris, a spokesperson for Contra Costa County’s public health department.

“The single most effective protection is a COVID-19 vaccine and Contra Costa Health Services recommends anyone who is 12 or older get vaccinated if they have not already done so,” Paris added. Marin: “We fully support San Francisco’s decision, and have been actively discussing our policy options in Marin,” said Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County’s

health officer. “We also support any business who takes this step for their own establishment.”

Willis said the county is “not there yet” to issue a similar countywide mandate.

“Ninety-five percent of Marin adults are vaccinated with at least one dose, and hospitalization and case rates have been stable for the past week or so,” Willis said, adding that the San Francisco approach is a possibility, particularly if case rates and hospitalizations continue to trend upward. Napa: Dr. Karen Relucio, Napa County’s public health officer, said the county does not plan to issue a similar mandate. San Mateo: “At this time, San Mateo County is not considering a mandate to require proof of vaccination to enter indoor spaces,” said Preston Merchant, a spokesperson for San Mateo County Health. “Masks remain required in San Mateo County in all indoor businesses and indoor public spaces.”

Santa Clara: “We always look at actions taken in neighboring jurisdictions and will review what San Francisco has implemented,” a spokesperson for the county said.

Solano: The county “has not seen information about what San Francisco is (doing) in regards to requiring proof of full vaccination,” said Jayleen Richards, public health administrator for Solano County Health & Social Services. “At this time, Solano County does not plan to follow something similar. We continue to follow the guidance and orders issued by the California Department of Public Health.”

Sonoma: The county has not yet provided information.