(UPDATE 22:19): San Luis Obispo County is opening eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine to all residents aged 50 and over.
Public health officials say the increased supply of vaccines is allowing them to expand eligibility to more than 50,000 community members.
On Monday, some residents of San Luis Obispo County shared how ecstatic they are now eligible to be vaccinated.
“When I saw this, I felt like I won the lottery,” said Melinda Luce, a member of the community.
“[Seeing the announcement] I felt great. I am 54 years old, so I have been looking at the brackets carefully and I think with good reason, there were others in the queue in front of me and this is how it should have been, “said resident Jason Wells.
For Wells, being vaccinated means seeing your 85-year-old father in person again.
The two have only been able to see each other on FaceTime for almost a year.
“Wow, it gives me the creeps to think. I think being apart helps you appreciate when you don’t have that much,” said Wells.
SLO County resident Traci Bradbury says she is looking forward to returning to some of her favorite local businesses.
“Now I’m dying to go to the cinema. I want to go to the Galaxy Theater in Atascadero,” said Bradbury.
For Melinda Luce, she knows what is at stake when it comes to COVID-19, after losing her mother to the disease last summer.
She says she is excited to go to the vaccination appointment.
“I want to help everyone. I want to be part of the solution to this and I want this virus to end,” said Luce.
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ORIGINAL STORY: San Luis Obispo County is opening eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine to all residents aged 50 and over.
Public health officials say the increased supply of vaccines is allowing them to expand eligibility to more than 50,000 community members.
The health department says it has enough stock to administer 10,000 first doses this week and at least 10,000 doses next week.
SLO County previously opened vaccine eligibility for the following groups:
- Health professionals and community health workers
- Long-term care residents and staff
- Education and childcare workers
- Food and agriculture workers
- Emergency service workers
- Public transport workers
- Janitorial Service Workers
- High-risk residents due to certain serious medical conditions or disabilities
- Residents who live or work in a homeless shelter or in a behavioral health facility
So far, health officials say nearly 110,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered in San Luis Obispo County.
To find out if you are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in SLO County and to register for a consultation, click here.