Actions

Santa Barbara Co. to vaccinate people 75+ against COVID-19

Vaccine.jpg
Posted at 4:13 PM, Jan 15, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-15 22:04:21-05

Santa Barbara County announced Friday that it will begin offering COVID-19 vaccinations for people 75 years of age and older beginning Wednesday, Jan. 20.

County officials say medical providers who are approved to administer the vaccine will be contacting their eligible patients to schedule vaccination appointments.

Vaccinations will also be available by appointment only at the county's public health community vaccination points of distribution (PODs). These sites will have approximately 1,200 vaccines available during their first four days of vaccination. To make an appointment, visit https://publichealthsbc.org/covid-19-vaccine-appointment-registration/. More appointments will become available as more vaccines arrive in the county.

More than 32,000 people 75 years of age and older live in Santa Barbara County.

While the state has directed counties to prioritize vaccination for people 65 and older, county officials say they are waiting for additional vaccines before offering them to people who are 65-74. County health officials say people in that age group should expect to hear from their health care provider once the vaccine is available to them.

The county says inoculation of frontline health care workers is also continuing in Santa Barbara County.

San Luis Obispo County also plans to start vaccinating people 75+ next week. As of Friday afternoon, all appointments in SLO County are filled.