Expanded San Mateo County Vaccine Rollout To Include Teachers

SAN MATEO, CA — San Mateo County on Thursday unveiled plans to expand its coronavirus vaccine rollout later this month.

Starting Feb. 22 the county will start vaccinating teachers, child care providers, first responders and food and agricultural workers who are eligible under the state’s Phase 1B as supply allows.

The county will provide pathways to immunization for newly eligible residents who are unable to access the vaccine through their usual health care provider as vaccine supply allows..

The county is working with organizations representing educators, child care workers, law enforcement, and restaurant and agricultural workers to support vaccination plans that are based on an equity framework.

The county will encourage local health care providers to vaccinate priority populations in low-income neighborhoods whenever possible before opening appointments to the broader eligible population.

A total of 84,783 individuals (0ut of the county population of approximately 780,000) have received a first dose of vaccine as of Sunday. Nearly 20,000 have completed the two-dose vaccine series.

“People are understandably clamoring for the vaccine, and we need to move as swiftly as possible to make that happen as soon as possible,” San Mateo County Supervisor Carole Groom said in a statement.

“We must do everything we can under the constraints we have to limit the enormity of the pandemic as COVID-19 continues to ravage our community.”