California is allowing residents 65 and older to get scarce coronavirus vaccines sooner. The Governor’s announcement Wednesday puts seniors in line before emergency workers, teachers, childcare providers and food and agriculture workers. State officials are expanding the program to those 65 and up because they are at the greatest risk of being hospitalized and dying.
Vaccines are available this week in Shasta County for in home support services providers and community health workers. People in these groups should make appointments with their nearest Safeway pharmacy or attend a drive through vaccination clinic on Saturday at Benton Airpark. Documentation and completed registration forms are required, with forms and details at shastaready.org.
Other quantities of vaccine are in the hands of federal officials who are working locally to vaccinate patients at the VA Clinic, as well as staff and elderly residents of skilled nursing facilities. The hospitals also have their own stockpiles of vaccine that they’re issuing to their staff members.
Local healthcare leaders are pleading with the public to slow the spread through the proven practices of staying home and away from other people as much as possible and wearing face coverings when going out.
A new state law requires employers to notify workers about possible exposure to COVID-19 and to report outbreaks to the Health Department within 48 hours. 3 or more cases in a 14 day period is considered an outbreak.
As Butte County has dropped it’s stay at home order and Trinity County has improved to the red tier, Shasta County’s situation is getting worse. The adjusted case rate has increased from 34.1 to 48.3 daily cases per 100,000 residents, largely because of a sharp drop in testing volume.
COVID testing is free and convenient, with appointments through LHI.CARE/CovidTesting or visit ShastaReady.org