SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – UC San Diego Health is expanding its vaccination efforts and began vaccinating 65 or more patients against COVID-19 on Thursday, ushering in a new phase in the vaccine’s launch in the region.
UC San Diego Health has now moved to Phase 1B-Tier 1, which includes people aged 65 and over. And those at risk of exposure at work in education, day care, emergency services and food and agriculture.
The plan is to start immunizing 500 patients a day. And due to the limited supply of vaccines, these doses will go to patients whose medical history makes them especially vulnerable to COVID-19.
“Qualified patients will receive a direct invitation to be vaccinated through their electronic medical record or a direct call from their healthcare provider. Patients are asked to wait for their vaccination invitations to avoid overloaded phone lines and to accommodate ongoing care and services” , according to a UCSD statement.
At a news conference on Wednesday, San Diego County leaders said the county is still trying to vaccinate all participants in Phase 1A, which consists of health professionals and staff.
Supervisory board chairman Nathan Fletcher said the county would also need to build a large-scale distribution system and enough staff to administer the vaccines. There are plans to add super vaccination sites in South Bay, North County and East County.
At the moment, doses of the vaccine are still going mainly to nursing home residents and health professionals in San Diego County, the state’s highest priority vaccination group.
Scripps Health, Sharp Healthcare and Kaiser said they are still working with eligible healthcare professionals in Phase 1A.