Marin County To Start Vaccinating Teachers, Essential Workers

SAN RAFAEL, CA — Marin County will begin offering vaccine shots to teachers, food service workers and other essential workers Wednesay, county officials said in a statement.

All residents who fall into the designated "tier 1" of the state's current vaccine plan are eligible to schedule an appointment through the state's MyTurn system or through pharmacies such as Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid.

More pharmacies will also begin offering vaccine appointments to local residents as soon as more doses become available, officials said.

On Wednesday, the following groups became eligible for innoculation within the county:

• Education
• Food service
• Child care
• Agriculture
• Emergency services

"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,” Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County’s Public Health Officer, 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."

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state would begin prioritizing teachers by setting aside 10 percent of the state's weekly vaccine allotment aside for them.

Marin County has vaccinated more than 60 percent of its residents older than 65, officials said. And 19.3 percent of Marin residents — more than 50,000 people — have recieved at least one shot of the two part vaccines available. The county has also helped vaccinated thousands more Marin-based health care workers who live nearby but help care for local residents, officials said.

Although eligibility requirements continue to loosen in Marin County and around the Bay Area, state officials say that supply is still an issue and warn residents to brace for an impacted month.

"Vaccine providers remain challenged by limited allocations form state and federal sources," Marin County officials said Wednesday. "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."

SEE ALSO: How To Get The Coronavirus Vaccine In California