COVID-19 vaccines start moving through first phase in El Dorado and Alpine counties

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - During both the South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting and the El Dorado County Board of Supervisor meetings on January 5, questions were asked of the health care professionals as to when the public can expect to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

Barton Hospital President/CEO Dr. Clint Purvance told the Council that over 60 percent of the hospital's top tier have been vaccinated and they will be receiving their second round Tuesday or Wednesday. He said they have seen some minor reactions such as a sore are, but nothing different than what the studies showed on test groups.

Dr. Purvance said the numbers hospitalized at Barton have been trending down, as have positive cases for COVID-19, but warned of people getting complacent before the whole community can be vaccinated.

"I hope the vaccine helps us get back to a healthier workforce," he said.

How people in future phases and tiers will be vaccinated will outlined in a coming plan.

As of January 5, 2021, El Dorado County has received 3,900 doses of the Pfizer brand vaccine and 3,100 doses of the Moderna brand vaccine.

The State has prioritized vaccination rollout into phases; the first, Phase 1A, is sub-prioritized into tiers, and, according to the County, they are in Phase 1A, Tiers 1 and 2 and working toward Tier 3. They expect to be finished with Tier 3 by February-March, and estimate to be one with Phase 1B Tier 1 and Tier 2 and Phase 1C in March-April. Completion of Phase 2 is estimated by summer.

Phase 1A - Critical and Healthcare Workers

During Phase 1A of allocation, COVID-19 vaccine is being offered to the following persons in California:

- Persons at risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 through their work in any role in direct health care or long-term care settings (This population includes persons at direct risk of exposure in their non-clinical roles, such as, but not limited to, environmental services, patient transport, or interpretation).

- Residents of skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and similar long-term care settings for older or medically vulnerable individuals.

Tier 1
Acute care, psychiatric and correctional facility hospitals
Skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and similar settings for older or medically vulnerable individuals
Also, in concordance with ACIP, residents in these settings
Paramedics, EMTs and others providing emergency medical services
Dialysis centers

Tier 2
Intermediate care facilities for persons who need non-continuous nursing supervision and supportive care
Home health care and in-home supportive services
Community health workers, including promotoras
Public health field staff
Primary Care clinics, including Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Centers, correctional facility clinics, and urgent care clinics

Tier 3
Other settings and health care workers, including:
Specialty clinics
Laboratory workers
Dental and other oral health clinics
Pharmacy staff not working in settings at higher tiers

Phase 1B - High-Risk Individuals
Tier 1
Those aged 75 or older
Education Sector
Childcare
Emergency Services
Food & Agriculture

Tier 2
Those aged 65-74
Transportation & Logistics
Commercial facilities
Residential facilities
Sheltering facilities
Critical manufacturing
Incarcerated person
Homeless

Phase 1C - High-Risk Individuals
Education Sector
Childcare
Emergency Services
Food & Agriculture

Phase 2 - Critical Workers and Moderate-Risk Individuals
Tier 1
Education Sector
Childcare
Emergency Services
Food & Agriculture

Tier 2
Transportation & Logistics
Commercial facilities
Residential facilities
Sheltering facilities
Critical manufacturing
Incarcerated person
Homeless

Phase 3 & 4 - Everyone
Populations not identified in prior phases and will be addressed and defined further by the California Department of Public Health

Alpine County

The Alpine County Health Officer Dr. Richard Johnson said they are getting through Phase 1A and starting to schedule individuals for Phase 1B. Their vaccines are for those that live and/or work in Alpine County

Hung-A-Lel-Ti Community: According to Dr. Bela Toth, the staff at the Washoe Tribal Health Center (WTHC) has been vaccinating health care workers and is now ready to begin reaching out to those elders age 75 years and older residing in the Hung-A-Lel-Ti community. He asks that eligible persons begin calling the center this Tuesday January 5th for information. He notes that the WTHC will also be utilizing a mobile van to reach out to residents who lack transportation resources or who would have difficulty getting to the clinic to be vaccinated. As additional vaccine becomes available, the WTHC will reach out to additional eligible groups to
receive vaccine. The phone number is 775-265-8622.

Bear Valley: The Alpine County Health Department (ACHD) has formed a vaccination team in the Bear Valley community and completed a first round of vaccinations for public safety personnel. The next step is to reach out to those in Phase 1b. Since the vaccine is supplied in 10 dose vials that need to be used within 6 hours once the vial is punctured, we need groups of 10 at any given time to efficiently use a vial and prevent wastage. If you see yourself in phase 1b, please call the Health Department at 530-694-2146 and talk to Jessica, Monday – Thursday, after 8:30 AM. She will coordinate with staff in putting together groups of 10, and we will then supply vaccine to staff in Bear Valley. Someone will be in contact with you to get scheduled.

Kirkwood: The ACHD has formed Mobile Strike Teams which will begin to reach out to the Kirkwood community this week. First on the list are those first responders who handle 911 medical calls. Names have been provided by Chief Ansel. We anticipate scheduling this first group of 10 sometime this week. For anyone in Phase 1b, please call Jessica as described above for Bear Valley, and we will begin the process of scheduling future visits by the Strike Team.

Woodfords: The ACHD is ready to begin scheduling appointments for anyone in Phase 1b. Vaccination is only by appointment. We ask that you call Jessica after 8:30 AM Monday through Thursday to schedule your appointment.

The WTHC has been allocated the Pfizer vaccine, and the ACHD allocated the Moderna vaccine. They are the same in terms of safety and effectiveness, approaching 95% within 2 weeks of the second dose. Both are 2 dose regimens, the second dose of Pfizer given after 21 days, and the Moderna after 28 days.