County expands COVID-19 vaccine eligibility

The group now prioritized includes education and childcare, emergency services and food and agriculture industries

More than half of Santa Cruz County residents 65 and older received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine by late last week, so the county expanded eligibility Monday that places education and childcare, emergency services and food and agriculture workers at the top.

In addition to those 65 years of age and above and health care workers, those individuals falling into the occupation groups described in the state’s vaccination rollout plan can now schedule vaccine appointments through their employers, according to the county.

Proof of occupation is required for vaccination. County spokesman Jason Hoppin said that a pay stub, work ID or similar document will suffice.

The county’s Public Health Division will directly contact eligible employers, who can now fill out a COVID-19 Vaccine Interest Survey at https://bit. ly/2NnFAUA.

“It has taken a truly collaborative effort across the community to reach this point,” said Health Services Agency Director Mimi Hall in the prepared statement. “We are steadily increasing our vaccine infrastructure to enable wider access.”

Hall said that her agency is pleased with the efforts so far, but reminded the public that those efforts are still limited by the vaccine supply and changing vaccine distribution plans from the state.

“I ask for the public’s continued support and understanding,” she wrote Monday.

Older residents who previously qualified for vaccines should schedule an appointment now, the county says, as those 65 and over are one of the groups with the highest risk of exposure, serious illness and death from COVID-19.

As of Monday, Santa Cruz County ranks seventh in the state’s 61 health jurisdictions for per capita vaccinations. Despite the accomplishment, Hall called for the community to continue staying home as much as

possible, wearing a mask in public, maintaining social distancing and avoiding gatherings with other households.

“The public should be aware that it will take weeks to get through agebased and occupationbased groups in Phase 1b,” county staff said in the statement.

When asked how many weeks, Hoppin said it was highly dependent on supply.

“A rule of thumb is that we have four times as many Phase 1b employees as Phase 1a,” Hoppin said. “It could be some time.”

The spokesman said that the county is currently vaccinating 300 people a day at its sites, including at partner clinics like Santa Cruz Community Health and Emeline Health Center. This number does not include patients of multicounty entities, such as those covered by Dignity Health or Sutter Health.

Looking ahead

To date, plans beyond Phase 1b have not been solidified by the state of

California. However, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced recently that beginning March 15 health care providers can vaccinate those 16-64 considered “at the very highest risk” because of the following severe health conditions:

• Cancer

• Chronic kidney disease, stage 4 or above

• Chronic pulmonary disease, oxygen-dependent

• Down syndrome

• Solid-organ transplant

• Pregnancy

• Sickle cell disease

• Heart conditions such as heart failure and coronary artery disease

• Severe obesity depending on body mass index

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus with a hemoglobin A1c level greater than 7.5%

In addition, those with developmental or other high-risk disabilities that are likely to develop severe life-threatening illness or death from COVID-19 or whose ability to receive ongoing care or services vital to survival are also eligible for the vaccine as of March 15.

To learn more about vaccination efforts and where to get vaccinated in Santa Cruz County, visit www.santacruzhealth.org/ coronavirusvaccine.