Supervisors call for continuation of County’s vaccine effort

• Santa Clara County Supervisors Joe Simitian and Otto Lee call for the continuation of the County’s COVID-19 vaccination program to serve residents regardless of insurance, location, or ability to pay; annual COVID-19 vaccines could be available with flu vaccines.

SAN JOSE – As the County winds down its mass vaccination sites for COVID-19, Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian is calling for the continuation of the vaccination program to serve County residents who still need and benefit from it, regardless of insurance, location, or ability to pay.

“I wish we were done, but we’re not,” said Simitian. “We’ve got to keep helping those who need the help, and we’ve got to stay nimble, so that we can ramp up quickly if the need arises again.”

Simitian (who Chairs the County’s Health and Hospital Committee), with colleague Supervisor Otto Lee, asked County Administration to return to the County’s Health and Hospital Committee on April 12 and the Board of Supervisors on April 18 with a plan to continue distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to those who want them. Simitian noted this potentially could be an opportunity to offer a COVID-19 vaccination program modeled after the County’s seasonal flu vaccine program, which focuses on the most vulnerable patients.

“The reason the County vaccine program has been so successful is because it’s been easy and convenient,” Simitian continued. “And while it might make sense to ‘ramp down’ our existing sites, I think we do need to maintain some level of ‘easy access’ for the foreseeable future. Why? Because the virus is still with us. And while a lot of folks can go to their healthcare provider or local pharmacy, that’s just not an option for some of our neighbors without health insurance. Nor is it a viable option for people who have good insurance, but can’t always count on timely access through their provider, and therefore rely on County programs.”

In making the proposal, Simitian noted that if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends yearly COVID-19 vaccinations, there will likely be a continuing need for vaccination sites during the annual cold and flu season, necessitating County clinics to offer both flu and COVID vaccines. He suggested that a range of options be considered, including hosting pop-up vaccine clinics and partnering with community organizations to provide vaccines at locations throughout the County.

Since vaccine distribution began in late 2020, the County has distributed almost two million doses – an effort that has resulted in nearly 90% of County residents completing the primary vaccine series of two doses. And while demand for the vaccine has declined, almost 18,000 residents still received a COVID-19 vaccine from the County in December 2022. Nevertheless, two-thirds of County residents still have not received their bivalent booster shot. 

“Our County residents have done an outstanding job of getting vaccinated, and we need to continue making vaccines available, especially for vulnerable populations,” said Lee, who serves as Vice Chair of the Health and Hospital Committee. “However, with only about a third of County residents receiving the latest bivalent booster, we need to make vaccines more available.”

Right now, vaccinations are available to anyone five to seven days a week in Mountain View, South County, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, and the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds.  Starting March 1, vaccinations will only be available for existing patients and the uninsured, and only at VMC facilities. 

With both permanent and pop-up locations through the County, the County’s vaccination program was designed to make it quick, easy, convenient, and free for residents to schedule a vaccine or find a drop-in site close to home or work. This approach was consistent with findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that making it easier to schedule a vaccine, better clinic hours, and proximity lead to increased vaccination rates. “Really, it’s just common sense,” said Simitian.

“Over these past three years, our County has demonstrated it can adapt quickly to a public health crisis of this scale,” said Simitian. “Now, as we enter a new phase of the pandemic, it’s important that the County’s COVID vaccination program not come to a sudden halt, but rather adapts to fit the continuing needs of our most vulnerable residents.”

Simitian said he, “wants a plan for the future – one that keeps us engaged in a way that’s appropriate to a changing healthcare environment.”

Residents can schedule their appointment online at vax.sccgov.org or by calling (408) 970-2000.