Monterey County adjusts vaccine distribution plan
MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION) The Monterey County Health Department announced that they will be moving into Phase 1B of vaccine distribution, which includes those 75 and older, persons aged 65 to 74 and frontline essential workers.
According to a 30 page document released by the Monterey County Health Department, Monterey County has approximately 434,061 residents. They have identified the approximation of essential workers needed to vaccinate which include:
- 20,000 healthcare workers
- 4,237 correctional and public safety workers
- 90,842 other essential workers like teachers, farm workers, and food service workers
Monterey County also identified the number of older individuals that are at age-based risk for COVID-19, which include:
- 38,660 individuals 75 years of age and older
- 47,811 individuals 65 to 74 years of age
With Monterey County receiving about 2,000 and 4,000 vaccines per week, it may take some time to vaccinate those at age-based risk and essential workers.
Kati Bassler, President of the Salinas Valley Federation of Teachers is confident that teachers will be able to receive the vaccine.
"We'll have access to the vaccines and when we do, we'll make them available and then we'll move forward with planning to return to in person," says Kati Bassler.
As soon as vaccination supply is available, hospitals and outpatient clinics can start scheduling appointments for those 75 and over.
Coming up at 5 and 6 p.m., KION's Stephanie Aceves will have more on how teachers are reacting to this adjustment.
