Marin County To Start Offering Vaccines To Teachers

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Marin County will start offering coronavirus vaccines to teachers and other essential workers, officials said Wednesday.

Food service workers and those who work in agriculture, child care and emergency services will also be eligible for vaccines, county officials said.

The move follows guidelines in the California state vaccination plan, official said.

The county has already vaccinated more than 60 percent of residents over the age of 65.

“We’ve made a lot of progress in vaccinating our health care workers and older residents, and it’s time to move ahead to protect our essential workers,” Marin County Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis said in a statement.

”Vaccinating teachers, food service workers, and others who have been on the front lines will offer our community another crucial layer of protection as we roll out the vaccine.”

With vaccines in limited supply, measures are being taken to reserve doses for those at highest risk, and some health care providers may continue to prioritize vaccine for patients who are 65 and older and have not yet had an opportunity to be vaccinated, county officials said.

Essential workers eligible for vaccine will be able to access vaccine through commercial pharmacies such as Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid and neighboring vaccine sites offered through the state’s MyTurn appointment system.

More pharmacies plan to start offering vaccine to Marin residents in the next two weeks as doses become available.

A list of Marin-based vaccine providers, including eligibility and appointment information, is listed on Public Health’s vaccine options webpage.

Marin County Public Health and health care providers began an immunization program for those 75 and older on Jan. 21 and opened eligibility for residents 65 and older Feb. 15.

As of Wednesday, 19.3 percent of Marin residents – more than 50,000 people – have received at least one dose of vaccine, in addition to thousands more Marin-based health care workers who live in other counties but help care for Marin residents.

To help connect eligible residents with available appointments, the County has created an online interest form.

County residents can subscribe to receive email, text message, or pre-recorded phone call notifications when their turn has arrived and how to pursue a vaccine appointment by answering a few questions.

The form is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese on Public Health’s vaccine webpage.