The arrival of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine will make it easier for San Diegans to be vaccinated against the virus.
The one-shot vaccine has already arrived in the region and is being distributed in the same way as the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
Some people showed hesitation about receiving the latest COVID-19 vaccine, as it was 72% effective in research trials in the United States, compared with about 94% for Moderna and 95% for Pfizer after those vaccines required two doses.
However, health officials say the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is as effective as its counterparts in preventing serious COVID-19 diseases and has been tested against variants of the virus. In addition, all vaccines currently available were 100% effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths during testing.
“San Diegans should receive any vaccine available when it is their turn to be vaccinated,” Wilma Wooten, MD, MPH, a county public health official. “All three vaccines are excellent for preventing people from becoming seriously ill with COVID-19.”
Local vaccination sites are currently providing vaccine for San Diegans in Phase 1A and Phase 1B. Supplies remain limited.
“Regardless of which vaccine you get, you will be protected against serious complications from COVID-19 and will be able to protect others who are waiting for their turn to be vaccinated,” said Wooten.
Vaccination progress:
- More than 1.15 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been delivered to the region and more than 1.04 million have been registered as administered. Of those vaccinated to date, almost 342,000 people, or 12.7% of San Diegans aged 16 and over, are fully immunized.
- Overall, more than 643,000 county residents received at least one injection of the two-dose vaccine. That is 23.9% of those eligible.
- The difference between the doses administered and those used in a vaccination represents approximately what is expected to be administered in the next seven days and the doses yet to be entered into the registration system.
- More information on vaccine distribution can be found on the county’s vaccination panel. For details on currently eligible groups and vaccination opportunities, visit vaccinationsuperstations.dom.
State metrics:
- The rate of cases adjusted and calculated by the state of San Diego County is currently 10.8 cases per 100,000 residents (as of March 2) and the region is in the Purple Layer or Layer 1.
- The percentage of positivity of the test is 4.2%, placing the county at Level 3 or Level Orange. Although the test positivity rate for the county qualifies you for Level 3, the state uses the most restrictive metric – in this case, the adjusted case rate – and assigns counties to that level. Therefore, the Shire remains at Purple Level or Level 1.
- The county health equity metric, which analyzes test positivity for areas with the lowest health conditions, is 6% and is at the red or level 2. This metric does not move counties to more restrictive levels, but it is necessary to advance to a less restrictive layer.
- The California Department of Public Health evaluates counties weekly. The next report is scheduled for Tuesday, March. 9
Community configuration outbreaks:
- No new outbreaks in the community were confirmed on March 7.
- Four community outbreaks were confirmed on March 6: two in commercial environments and two in retail environments.
- No community outbreak was confirmed on March 5.
- In the last seven days (March 1 to March 7), 24 community outbreaks have been confirmed.
- The number of outbreaks in the community remains above the trigger of seven or more in seven days.
- An outbreak in a community setting is defined as three or more cases of COVID-19 in an environment and in people from different households in the last 14 days.
Test:
- 9,770 tests were notified to the county on March 7, and the percentage of new positive cases was 3%.
- The 14-day moving average percentage of positive cases is 3.2%. The target is less than 8.0%.
- The daily average of 7-day tests is 12,835.
ICU cases, hospitalizations and admissions:
- 307 cases were reported to the county on March 7. The total for the region now stands at 263,275.
- 13,259 or 5% of all cases required hospitalization.
- 1,613 or 0.6% of all cases and 12.2% of hospitalized cases had to be admitted to an intensive care unit.
Deaths:
- No further deaths from COVID-19 were reported on March 7. The total for the region is 3,390.
- Five deaths from COVID-19 were reported on March 6.
- Three men and two women died between 28 and 30 January.
- Of the five deaths, one person who died was 80 years old or more, two people who died were 70 years old and two were 60 years old.
- All had underlying medical conditions.
- 14 deaths from COVID-19 were reported on March 5.
- Ten men and four women died between 16 January and 4 March.
- Of the 14 deaths reported on March 5, four people who died were 80 years old or more, six were 70 years old, one was 60 years old, two were 50 years old and one was 40 years old.
- 12 had underlying medical conditions and two did not.
More information:
The most detailed data summaries found in the County coronavirus-sd.com website are updated around 5 pm daily.