Community News

March 16, 2021 marked the one-year anniversary of the Order by the Health Officer of the County of Santa Clara directing all County residents to shelter at their place of residence as a precaution against the COVID-19 virus. This early and decisive action set the tone for the proactive efforts by the County over the past year to stay ahead of the spread of the virus.

Today, we are in a much better place with multiple effective vaccines at our disposal and significant progress vaccinating our most vulnerable population, starting with seniors. Through the end of February, over half a million doses of vaccine had been administered, more than a quarter of those second doses. As part of the County’s commitment to transparency, we make a great deal of data about local vaccine administration available on our website. Please do take a look. New vaccination sites are being launched weekly, with special focus being given to areas with the highest infection rates and communities that have been underrepresented in vaccine distribution to date.

The County has prepared materials in a variety of languages to help providers reach out to their patients. Many can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/ folders/1ZKRrvhrZutg9CQLPJ-PrY3WLo65XkLEt.

Included are flyers, social media posts, and posters in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog and Chinese that can be downloaded to print for your office, emailed in your patient newsletters, or shared online. New items are added frequently on topics including what to bring to a vaccine appointment, common questions about COVID-19, and information about vaccine safety. There is also a Vaccine 101 presentation, a suggested instructional resource for presentations to lay audiences.

One of the most closely followed issues around COVID-19 vaccines has been eligibility. From the initial focus on healthcare workers, staff and residents of long-term care facilities, and seniors age 65 and older, up through the March 15 expansion to several qualifying health conditions, there has been great interest, understandably, among County residents as to when they will be able to receive the vaccine. Our website (sccfreevax.org) has the latest information about vaccine eligibility, as well as responses to Frequently Asked Questions about the process. We also offer versions in Spanish (sccvacuna.org) and three other languages.

Within the general eligibility categories there has been a need to clarify who specifically is included. The State has responsibility for determining eligibility groups and with that the definitions of each sector. Their website is an important source of information on this topic: covid19.ca.gov/vaccines. The County’s website shares this and other guidance from the state, as well as any local prioritization of eligible groups according to current availability of vaccine.

Guidance shifts over time, so it is important to stay up to date. For example, many patients incorrectly believe that it is unsafe to be vaccinated if they have had COVID-19 within the past 90 days. The truth is that patients can receive a vaccine after they have completed their isolation period. The exception is treatment with intravenous monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, which requires a 90-day wait before getting a COVID vaccine.

When it comes to patient interactions, one of the biggest challenges is addressing vaccine misinformation. From fear about catching COVID-19 from vaccines to concerns about microchips, wild theories shared online have made it harder to persuade all eligible people to get vaccinated. Whether or not you usually counsel patients about vaccines in your practice, these days we are all vaccine ambassadors. Our COVID-vaccine webpage for providers suggests some resources to help you educate your staff to address patient questions about vaccination. That page is sccgov. org/ProviderVaccineInfo. Your interaction with a particular patient may be that person’s only opportunity to ask a doctor about COVID-19 vaccine. As patients’ most-trusted source of information on vaccines, all healthcare providers play a critical role in helping their patients understand the importance of COVID-19 vaccination.

What we have found is that the best way to speak to the public at large, or one on one, is to speak in plain language honestly and directly. The best way to stop the spread of the virus and the emerging threat posed by its variants is to

get everyone vaccinated as quickly as possible. That means making an appointment for vaccine as soon as you are able and accepting whichever brand you are offered, because all of them provide strong protection against severe cases of COVID-19. That has to be our primary concern, as we know that in addition to death and hospitalization, severe cases can cause long-lasting, if not permanent, impacts to one’s health.

We know that there is significant apprehension among some individuals about receiving the vaccine. The fact that tens of millions of Americans have now received the vaccine with few cases of major side effects should give comfort for those who have been hesitating. Many of their peers are likely to have had the vaccine and can tell them firsthand what it is like. Similar to other vaccines, sore arms and minor headaches can occur, but they tend to go away within a day or two.

We remain concerned about the need to increase vaccination rates among those who are not computer savvy, face language barriers, work in jobs with more public contact, and those in the African-American or African ancestry or Latin(x) communities, which have lower vaccination rates for a variety of reasons, including greater numbers of comorbidities, challenges with transportation, distrust of our healthcare system, and work category.

We ask you to help us make an extra effort to reach out to these groups and encourage them to utilize the many resources available to them, including the County’s 2-1-1 phone number, which has operators standing by 7 days a week with the ability to speak to individuals in the language of their choice. They can provide information about transit options for those who do not drive, including the VTA’s free ride offer for those who are trying to reach a vaccine site.

With vaccine sites now located across the County, including several drop-in locations that do not require a prior appointment, there is an option for everyone. Times are available on weekday evenings and weekends. Santa Clara County’s No Wrong Door policy means that everyone eligible to be vaccinated can go through any local health agency to make an appointment, as they are all working together to best serve the public. Those with disabilities or who cannot stand for long periods of time can take advantage of the County’s expedited process, which includes special parking sections and staff assistance.

We thank you for your partnership in tackling what has been one of the greatest challenges we have faced as a community in the 21st Century. With your help, we believe that we are turning the corner.