San Bernardino County is making steady progress through Phase 1A of the state’s vaccination campaign and is monitoring recommendations being considered by California’s Community Vaccine Advisory Committee. The new guidelines were announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday, Dec. 28 and are expected to be finalized by the California Department of Public Health very soon.

If the newly adapted phases are approved, there will be three new tiers in Phase 1A. San Bernardino County is currently in Tier 1 of Phase 1A (see chart for reference), which means we are currently distributing vaccine doses to frontline health care workers, medical first responders (e.g., paramedics) and dialysis centers, and soon to skilled nursing facilities and other long-term care residents.

“For two weeks now, we have successfully brought both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines to our county’s hospitals and medical centers, as well as EMTs and paramedics,” said County Public Health Director Corwin Porter. “We’re now working with Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy to deliver vaccines to other groups included in this phase, specifically staff and residents at skilled nursing facilities and other long-term care residences.”
The county expects to complete Phase 1A, Tier 1 by mid-January and move into the next tier.

Tier 2 of Phase 1A will include those receiving intermediate and supportive care; home health care and in-home supportive services; community health workers; public health field staff; primary care clinics and health centers; correctional facility clinics; and urgent care clinics.

Tier 3 of Phase 1A will include specialty clinics; laboratory workers; dental/oral health clinics; and pharmacy staff.

Moving into Phase 1B, there are two tiers. In Tier 1 of Phase 1B, the vaccine doses will be administered to frontline essential workers in non-medical fields, such as food and agriculture sectors; teachers and support staff; emergency services such as police and fire; childcare workers; farmworkers; and any citizens over the age of 75.

In Tier 2 of Phase 1B, the vaccine will be administrated to individuals over 65 with serious risk factors; the homeless; inmates in jails and prisons; and essential workers in transportation, logistics, critical manufacturing, industrial, residential and commercial sectors.

Identifying Phase 1C recipients is not expected to be finalized for several weeks. They will likely include individuals aged 16 to 64 with underlying medical conditions, as well as workers in other essential industries. This will then allow for Phase 2 of vaccination distribution, for individuals over 16 not included in prior phases.

The County has delivered more than 33,000 doses of the vaccine so far that were received from the state and supplies to implement the shots have come with the vaccines. The county is prepared to conduct point-of-dispensing sites at multiple locations and will be coordinating with the cities, towns and community partners to reach all communities. 

HOURS EXPANDED AT TESTING FACILITIES

County residents have responded impressively to officials’ pleas to get tested for COVID-19, with more th

an 465,000 tests having been conducted in December alone.
Demand for tests continues to be strong, with appointments consistently filling up two or three days in advance. In response, several of the County’s testing facilities are expanding hours until 8 p.m. to accommodate residents and are expected to maintain these extended hours through Jan. 8.

“We are proud of how county residents have responded to our requests to get testing,” said County Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman, who noted that the county’ testing numbers have recently exceeded state requirements. “We are continuing to encourage everyone, including those without symptoms, to schedule an appointment to get tested.”

Hagman noted that, while many of the County’s testing locations continue to accept walk-ins, those without appointments are typically having to wait up to 90 minutes or longer to actually receive a test.

“Getting tested is both painless and cost free,” said Hagman, “and for those with an appointment, it’s quick, easy and convenient. So please, schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience.”

A list of testing sites and their hours may be found at https://sbcovid19.com/testing-sites.