Vaccine Rollout: CoCo Teachers, Essential Workers Now Eligible

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — Teachers, grocery workers and other frontline essential workers who live in Contra Costa County can now sign up to receive a free coronavirus vaccine.

Effective Thursday, Contra Costa County has extended vaccine eligibility to include residents who work in these sectors, as defined in Phase 1B of the state's vaccination plan: education, child care, food and agriculture, and emergency services.

"We are committed to protecting all of our educators by ensuring they can access the COVID-19 vaccine," County Supervisor Diane Burgis said. "It is critical that we prioritize the health and well-being of all the essential workers who have cared for us and our families throughout the pandemic."

Although all appointments at county-operated vaccination sites are filled through the next two weeks — at least— because of a temporary reduction in vaccine supply from the state, eligible Contra Costa County residents can sign up to access state and federal vaccine sites by going online to MyTurn.ca.gov or by calling 833-422-4255.

Eligible residents can choose to join the waiting list for county vaccinations by completing the online Vaccine Appointment Request.

When more appointments do become available, the county will continue to prioritize residents who are 65 or older as well as eligible essential workers, particularly those who live or work in the local communities most heavily affected by the pandemic.

People who need to cancel an existing appointment, or received the first dose of vaccine through the county and need to make a second-dose appointment, should call 833-829-2626.

Contra Costa Health Services has administered 238,955 vaccine doses to date, with a goal of 1 million doses by July.

"CCHS continues to move forward with a workplace-based outreach effort to immunize essential workers in high-risk jobs in the county’s hardest-hit communities, including food and agriculture workers," the county said. "Workers at sites selected for the program will be contacted by their employers."

"This Is Welcome News"

The announcement Thursday paves the way for the county's 16,000-plus teachers and school employees to receive vaccines when they become available, the Contra Costa County Office of Education said.f

"This is welcome news," Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey said. "I encourage all school employees, especially those who are already working with the most vulnerable and at-risk students, to sign up to receive the vaccine as soon as possible."

Those who are at risk of occupational exposure to COVID-19 through their work in any role in the following Education and Child Care settings are eligible to sign up for a vaccine, according to the County Office of Education:

• All formal and informal child care workers, including daycare providers
• All staff in colleges, universities, junior colleges, community colleges and other postsecondary education facilities
• All staff in educational support services and administration
• All staff in prekindergarten, elementary, middle and high schools
• All staff in technical and trade schools
• Any other workers involved in child and/or student care, including school bus drivers and monitors, crosswalk guards, etc.

"Making the vaccine available for educators and school staff is an important step to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in this county and protect those who are most at risk of contracting this deadly disease," Mackey said.