Solano County pleased to be part of new vaccine shot phase

As the number of current COVID-19 cases go down, the number of people qualified to get a vaccine shot is going up.

Several million more Californians qualified for a coveted COVID-19 vaccine shot on Monday, as the state expanded vaccine eligibility to homeless people, transit workers and the largest category — people ages 16 to 64 “who are deemed to be at the very highest risk for morbidity and mortality from COVID-19.”

Health care providers may use their clinical judgement to vaccinate individuals aged 16 to 64 who are deemed to be at the very highest risk for morbidity and mortality from COVID-19.

The list of “high risk” conditions and disabilities that qualify a person for the next phase of vaccination includes cancer, pregnancy, stage 4 kidney disease, oxygen-dependent lung disease, Down syndrome, sickle cell disease, coronary artery disease, severe diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and a weakened immune system from a solid organ transplant.

This latest phase of California’s vaccine rollout adds 4 million to 6 million people to the current list of vaccine-eligible Californians, bringing the total to 17 million to 19 million — or about half the state. And it comes as California continues seeing a sustained decline in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, allowing 13 more counties to enter the red tier for reopening in the past two days.

Solano County has had 30,586 COVID-19 cases and 177 deaths, but has not had a death for a week. The county has a 2.5 positivity rate and is at 7.0 for new COVID-19 cases per day per 100,000. The Solano County Fairgrounds is hosting many COVID-19 vaccination clinics over the past two months, including one on Wednesday.

“I think the main reason for the high number of people being vaccinated and a new phase beginning in Solano County is the partnerships shared in the county. Solano County has very good partnerships with health care organizations,” said Solano County Public Health Administrator Jayleen Richards. “Another big factor is the coordination between all the groups. Because of this, we’re able to contribute more vaccines. There is a little bit of a decrease this weekend but we’re expecting the number to go up again.”

Others that can now get vaccinated include those at risk of exposure at work in the following sectors:

• Water and wastewater

• Defense

• Energy

• Chemical and hazardous materials

• Communications and IT

• Financial services

• Government operations/community-based essential functions

At last weekend’s clinic at the Solano County Fairgrounds, 13,000 people were vaccinated, according to

Richards.

“When we announce a clinic and aren’t getting an immediate taking up of spots on each day then that’s an indicator that we can move up to another tier,” Richards said.

Many Vallejoans on the Times-Herald’s Facebook page were excited to have either received the vaccine or to be in line to get one. Dana Nunes wrote, “Just got mine 20 minutes ago. Excited to be on the road to normal!”

Jackie Corsun, who just received her her second vaccine shot, is anticipating the day her whole family can meet up again.

“We got our second vaccines Saturday, so much relief,” Corsun said on the Facebook page. “A feeling of happiness perhaps the end is coming soon. My husband had no reaction, just a sore arm. However, I got quite sick. Six hours into it I got chills, eight hours into it chills, fever, severe aches. I took Tylenol. Rested all day Sunday. Better but not well Monday still achy! Tuesday 100 percent fine today. Yay! My daughters get their second and first next week. Our whole family almost vaccinated.”

Richards said she’s been to a few clinics and seen the emotions of people who get their shot. But it’s also a personal issue with her.

“My grandmother is 97 and my family and myself have been really worried about her,” Richards said. “It’s been a hard year for her and that’s not a great way to spend the final years of your life. So it means a lot to my family when she and all of us are able to get a shot so we can be together.”

Richards said that although many of the homeless population in the past I have said they don’t want the vaccine, it is important they get vaccinated as well. Richards pointed out that the one-shot Johnson & Johnson shot could help the homeless population.

“The one-dose shot would help with them because social distancing is hard for them if they are in shelters,” Richards said. “If they are not in shelters they tend to roam a lot and it can be hard to get a hold of them.”

Richards added that once this phase/tier of people is vaccinated the next phase will be “every other adult.” She said that even though she also believes the mass vaccinations seem to make it feel like the pandemic is witnessing the light at the end of the tunnel, there is still a long way to go before everyone makes it to the other side.

“It is the light, but it’s a long haul,” Richards said. “President Biden said he was hopeful that people could get together again on the Fourth of July. I am hopeful, too, and maybe I’m naive, but although I think future outbreaks will happen, it won’t be as much as they were in January and they will be much more controlled due to the number of seniors and high-risk people getting the vaccine.”

Bay Area News Group writer Maggie Angst contributed to this article.