Santa Cruz County Public Health Division to open mass vaccination site

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION) The County of Santa Cruz Public Health Division is teaming up with the City of Watsonville and OptumServe to open a mass vaccination site in Watsonville.

Vaccines will be by appointment and only for those in Phase 1A, residents aged 75 and older and residents aged 65 and older who reside in the 95019, 95076 and 95077 zip codes.

South County in Watsonville has been one of the hardest hit areas in during the pandemic. It makes up 60% of known COVID cases but accounts for only 29% of the county's population.

This has prompted health officials to move the vaccination site to Old Town Hall in Watsonville.

"Right now we're focusing on our South County residents because the data from this pandemic has shown that our South County residents have been impacted the most adversely in South County," says Primavera Hernandez, Employee of Santa Cruz County Public Health.

The majority of the population that makes up South County are Latinos and have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

Despite the Latino population making up only 35% of the population, Latinos make up 55% of cases.

The clinic will be held this Thursday through Monday and will offer 210 vaccination appointments per day.

For those that have appointments, remember to bring proof of age and residence.