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February 11, 2021
Redwood City – Starting February 22, San Mateo County will expand COVID-19 vaccinations to teachers and child care providers, first responders, and food and agriculture workers who are eligible for the phase 1B of the State, to the extent that supply permits.
“People are naturally clamoring for the vaccine and we need to act as quickly as possible to make it happen as soon as possible,” said Carole Groom, San Mateo County Supervisor. “We must do all we can under the constraints we have to limit the enormity of the pandemic as COVID-19 continues to ravage our community.
Following the multi-level state system, the county, in partnership with private providers, has focused on immunizing healthcare workers, residents of long-term care facilities and the elderly since Pfizer and Moderna vaccines became available in December. As of this week, a third of people aged 65 and over in San Mateo County have received the first dose of the vaccine.
This effort will extend on February 22 to include eligible essential workers such as educators, child care providers, law and enforcement, and food and agriculture workers. , which includes some grocery store workers, as the limited vaccine supply allows.
“Getting vaccines into the arms of San Mateo County residents is our highest and most urgent priority,” said County Supervisor Dave Pine, who, along with Groom, sits on the council’s subcommittee. administration of COVID-19. “While we do everything we can to ensure that everyone who is eligible for the vaccine receives one, we face severe supply limitations that complicate our efforts. We ask for patience and understanding in these very difficult times.
Waiting until February 22 to expand eligibility allows the county and its partners to continue to focus on vaccinating healthcare workers and residents 65 and older who are at greatest risk of coronavirus death. More than 8 in 10 of 447 deaths in San Mateo – 84% – are people aged 65 or older.
The county, through San Mateo County Health and the county-run San Mateo Medical Center, works closely with private health care providers, community organizations, and other partners to immunize eligible residents .
As vaccine supply allows, the county will provide vaccination routes on February 22 for newly eligible residents who cannot access the vaccine through their usual health care provider.
The county is working with organizations representing educators, child care workers, law enforcement, and restaurant and agricultural workers to support vaccination plans based on a equity framework. The county will encourage local health care providers to immunize priority populations in low-income neighborhoods whenever possible before opening appointments to the wider eligible population.
A total of 84,783 people (0ut of the county’s population of about 780,000) received a first dose of the vaccine on Sunday. Almost 20,000 have completed the two-dose series of vaccines.
“We need to quickly vaccinate as many people as possible and that includes essential workers,” said Board Chairman David J. Canepa. “We need to focus on ending COVID 24/7 so that we can stimulate the economy and start to get back to normal.”
Sign up for vaccine eligibility alerts
Although the supply of COVID-19 vaccines remains limited, residents can register for the County notification tool to receive alerts when the state makes them eligible and information on how you can get an appointment.
For eligible residents, completing the form also adds them to an outreach list for available vaccine appointments at county-sponsored vaccination sites (this form, however, does not replace any registration or appointment mechanism. offered by other providers in San Mateo County).
Tests widely available in San Mateo County
The COVID-19 test is widely available in San Mateo County, including a newly opened dedicated site at San Mateo College.
San Mateo County offers free testing for anyone who lives or works in the county, regardless of symptoms.
Driving tests for adults and children are available at facilities in North Fair Oaks, San Bruno, Daly City and East Palo Alto, in addition to the College of San Mateo.
For more details and to make an appointment, visit the county test site. Note that the days and times as well as the ages of eligible children vary by location. The site also includes a link to a searchable map of the state of California of testing locations.
And remember:
To protect yourself, follow these recommendations:
- Wear a mask over your nose and mouth
- Stay at least 6 feet from others
- Avoid the crowds
- Avoid poorly ventilated spaces
- Wash your hands often
Learn more about these and other steps you can take to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
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