From the Humboldt County Joint Information Center:
Dozens of staff at local qualified nursing centers are expected to receive their first COVID-19 vaccine by the end of this holiday weekend.
California’s governor’s office, Gavin Newsom, announced on Monday that the state has opted for the federal COVID-19 Pharmacy Partnership, which will have CVS and Walgreens employees administer the Pfizer vaccine to employees and residents of nursing homes. elderly, assisted living facilities, residential care facilities and other term care facilities. However, with delayed federal implementation, Humboldt County Public Health has entered the breach.
Humboldt County Health Officer Dr. Ian Hoffman said: “The pharmaceutical partnership program will be beneficial to many people, but due to the current situation in our county, we think it is important to increase the vaccine schedule for the health team. qualified local nursing facilities. ”
While some facilities, including Seaview Rehabilitation, will begin vaccination through the federal program early next week, Fortuna and Eureka Rehabilitation and Wellness Centers would have to wait until mid-January without support from Public Health.
Many staff at the Granada Rehabilitation and Wellness Center remain in quarantine, but plans are being put in place to vaccinate all employees who have not tested positive once the quarantine period ends. The team with a positive test will be able to start the vaccine series after recovering or having waited 90 days.
The public health team is coordinating with the Emergency Operations Center, community partners and medical providers to host invite-only mass vaccination clinics for healthcare professionals across the county starting next week.
For updates on vaccine distribution in California, go to covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/.