San Luis Obispo County is opening eligibility for scheduling a COVID-19 vaccination for more residents.
As of now, workers in the sectors of food and agriculture, emergency services and education and daycare, as well as people aged between 16 and 64 years with certain high-risk or disability medical conditions and caregivers who provide home care to elderly residents or clinically vulnerable can sign up for an appointment.
Public health officials estimate that this will make some 40,000 SLO county residents eligible for the vaccine.
Health officials say residents qualified on the basis of their work will be required to present an identification document and a recent paycheck to verify employment. Those who are eligible due to a medical condition or disability will be asked to attest to their specific condition.
Healthcare professionals and people aged 65 and over have been eligible for vaccination appointments for some time. Education and daycare workers were also recently eligible, but only through appointments made through their employers.
County health officer Dr. Penny Borenstein said at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon that the change came as the Department of Public Health noticed a drop in demand for vaccines in previously eligible sectors.
Health officials say the county has enough vaccine stock to deliver 5,500 first doses next week at the county’s vaccine clinics in Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo.
To find out if you are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in SLO County and to register for a consultation, click here.