Santa Clara Co. unveils mass vaccination site in Mountain View

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – The path to increasing South Bay’s COVID-19 vaccinations shortened on Friday. This, as Santa Clara County unveiled a new mass vaccination site at the Mountain View Community Center.

“At the end of the day, everyone will have to get the vaccine if life is to get back to normal,” said Nicolas Chew, a health worker who was one of the first to get the vaccine at the new center. .

However, the course of normality runs into difficulties. Through a virtual press conference, Santa Clara County officials said they hoped the appointment will only be, the Mountain View site vaccinates 1,000 people a day, five days a week.

“We are at a critical crossroads in this pandemic in Santa Clara County,” said Mountain View Mayor Ellen Kamei.

The county health department is reporting more than 96,000 cumulative cases of COVID. The seven-day moving average is over 1,100 cases.

Hurry up. We don’t have a month to lose. We don’t have a week to lose. We don’t have a day to lose. We just can’t afford to let the time pass, ”said Joe Samitian, a member of the county watchdog representing Ward 5, which is also home to the new center.

As county officials strive to get more mass testing sites approved and opened in the coming weeks, there is a glaring problem: even with more places to administer the vaccine and people to staff. sites, there is a shortage of upcoming vaccines for the state.

“This vaccine is an essential tool and hopefully our way out of the pandemic. But we continue to wait for an additional supply of vaccine,” said County Assoc. Chief Physician Dr. Jennifer Tong.

She said officials are asking for everything Sacramento can offer. During the week of January 25-30, this will represent 20,000 first-shot doses and 13,000 second-shot doses. But this is still not enough to significantly improve the vaccination rate by 20%.

“Having the supply is crucial. So we can have the location and the logistics, but if we don’t have supplies, that’s going to be a problem, ”said Dr. Marcelle Dougan, an associate. professor in the Department of Public Health and Recreation at San Jose State University.

As the battle to move beyond the coronavirus progresses, officials say the ultimate success – 70% vaccination rates, lies well beyond centers such as Mountain View.