Solano County affirms plan to expand COVID shot eligibility
Starting Wednesday, anyone aged 16 or older will be able to get the coronavirus vaccine in Solano County, following guidance from state health officials issued last month.
(Graphic by Solano NewsNet)
Anyone who lives in Solano County and is aged 16 or older will be eligible to receive the vaccine for the novel coronavirus COVID-19, health officials affirmed on Tuesday.
The expanded eligibility takes effect on Wednesday.
The announcement was not unexpected: Last month, state health officials said all California residents who are 16 years of age or older would become eligible for the vaccine by April 15.
The decision to affirm eligibility marks progress in a county that has traditionally lagged behind neighboring communities when it comes to addressing health and safety concerns surrounding the novel coronavirus: Despite earning the designation as having the first confirmed case of COVID-19 infection at the start of the pandemic, Solano County officials declined to issue a stay-at-home order earlier in the pandemic until their counterparts at the state ultimately forced them to do so.
And despite having one of the worst viral outbreaks in the Bay Area region, some local law enforcement leaders proclaimed they would not enforce shelter-at-home orders intended to keep residents safe, citing either a lack of manpower or a political belief that they were not required to do so.
On Wednesday, Solano County health officials said they were pleased to expand eligibility, but warned that a recent decision to pause the use of a Johnson & Johnson variant of the COVID-19 vaccine could lead to delays in booking first appointments for those who are now able to receive a shot.
All clinics administered by Solano County have switched to the Pfizer or Moderna variants of the COVID-19 vaccine until officials receive further guidance from federal and state health experts.
“We ask that the public continue to be patient as the pace of administering vaccines depends on supply,” Dr. Bela Matyas, Solano County’s chief health officer, said in a news release cited by a local news organization. (Despite several requests, Solano County’s Public Health Office has provided no news releases directly to Solano NewsNet during the pandemic.)
County health officials said residents should continue to employ COVID-19 prevention measures, including practicing social distancing, washing hands and wearing face masks.
In addition to county-run clinics, the COVID-19 vaccine is widely available at other pharmacies, including those operated by North Bay Healthcare, Sutter Health and Kaiser Permanente. The vaccine is also available at retail pharmacies, including CVS, Rite Aid and Costco, and is expected to be offered at Walmart soon.
The cost of the vaccine is covered by a person’s health insurance. Those who do not have health insurance are eligible to receive the vaccine for free thanks to a federal program that subsidizes its cost.