Local leaders seek to address equity issues in vaccine rollout

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION) UPDATED: After a push from local leaders to address equity in the vaccine rollout, Monterey County plans to open up vaccine eligibility to seniors who are high risk workers or live in certain zip codes.

Starting February 17, workers ages 65 and older at risk of exposure in food, agriculture, childcare, education and emergency services sectors will be eligible to get vaccinated, along with people ages 65 to 74 in the lowest quartile Healthy Places Index zip codes.

The announcement came at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.

“We believe this strategy addresses the county residents that are most
likely to die from COVID-19, while beginning to protect additional essential
workers and considers equity by offering vaccines to individuals in communities historically burdened with poorer health and poorer social outcomes,” Monterey County Health Officer Dr. Edward Moreno said at the meeting.

Residents who are 75 and older will continue to be eligible for the shots.

North Salinas alone represents 20 percent of cases in Monterey County,
followed by east Salinas and Soledad.

“Those are three zip codes that we should start with because we know they have the highest infection, highest hospitalization, highest rates of death,” Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo said. “We’re talking about people’s lives here and we need to be able to start putting vaccine where it’s needed the most.”

But it will take some time. The health department estimates it will take
about 16 months to administer one dose to residents eligible in Phase 1B.

“The supply isn’t sufficient to meet the demand here in Monterey County, as in other counties,” Moreno said.

Dr. Moreno says the supply is slightly increasing and as they get more doses
allocated, they expect that will help the county get through this phase in a
shorter period of time.

The health department says they’ll announce plans at a later date
for getting through the remaining residents who are ages 65 and older as well as essential workers of other ages.

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Monterey County supervisors have brought up vaccine rollout equity concerns in recent weeks, including access to shots for the most vulnerable areas and vaccinations for farm workers.

Currently, clinics and hospitals are working on vaccinating eligible seniors.

Supervisor Luis Alejo is suggesting the county set aside vaccines for residents in zip codes that are hardest hit by COVID-19.

He is also pushing for the county to begin vaccinating agricultural workers. This is a sector that has been hit hard by the pandemic. County data shows that 3,304 residents who work in agriculture have contracted the virus during the pandemic.

Santa Cruz County began vaccinating their agricultural workers at a clinic in Watsonville last week.

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors is holding a meeting Tuesday when the board is expected to get an update from health officials.