Covid-19 vaccinations for Santa Cruz County residents are being expanded to include workers in education and childcare, emergency services, and food and agriculture industries, the county announced today.
Eligibility will be based on occupation definitions from the California Department of Public Health, according to the county’s press release. Proof of occupation will be required.
The County Public Health Division will start occupational vaccinations by working with eligible employers to arrange clinics. Eligible employers can begin the process by filling out a Covid-19 Vaccine Interest Survey at bit.ly/2NnFAUA.
Visit the county’s website at santacruzhealth.org/coronavirusvaccine for updates and information, including when and how people who are newly eligible can schedule vaccine appointments.
The expanded eligibility comes as more than half of Santa Cruz County residents age 65 and older have now received at least one vaccine dose. Any older adults who have not yet been vaccinated should schedule an appointment now, the county urged in its press release, noting that “as vaccine access expands, efforts will continue to focus on those most impacted, including those with high risk of exposure and older residents at greatest risk of serious illness and death from Covid-19.”
“We are steadily increasing our vaccine infrastructure to enable wider access,” County Health Services Agency Director Mimi Hall said in the press release. “While we are proud and pleased with efforts so far, they are limited by both vaccine supply and changing vaccine distribution plans from the State of California. I ask for the public’s continued support and understanding.”
The public should be aware that it will take weeks to get through age-based and occupation-based groups in Phase 1B, the county added.
