Given the ongoing shortage of COVID-19 vaccine doses supply in the region, local vaccination sites are prioritizing those with a second appointment.
Two confusing issues are delaying the release of new appointments for San Diegans looking to get their first dose. One is a shortage of Moderna doses entering the region to make up for shipments delayed a few weeks ago due to bad weather across the country. The other is that Pfizer doses that have come in are used almost exclusively to vaccinate people who will receive their second dose of vaccine.
While some first-dose arrangements have been released for use by the County and its partners, under state guidelines, they are reserved for groups such as law enforcement officers, teachers, and other school personnel.
“Our sites are working hard to complete vaccinations for people who need their second dose,” said Wilma Wooten, MD, MPH, County Public Health Center. “When we get through the backlog in Moderna and more doses come in, including the new Johnson and Johnson vaccine, the first dose appointments will be released for the many people who are both eligible and eager to get vaccinated.”
Progress of vaccination
Local vaccination sites are currently providing vaccines to San Diegans in Phase 1A and Phase 1B.
To date, nearly 1,070,000 doses of COVID-19 have been delivered to the region, of which nearly 946,000 have been delivered. The difference between the two numbers roughly represents what is expected to be administered over the next seven days and the doses remaining to be entered into the registration system. Nearly 7,400 doses have been administered and are awaiting complete documentation.
To date, nearly 290,000 fully vaccinated San Diegans have been vaccinated, while more than 22% of San Diegans over the age of 16 have received at least one dose, which equates to nearly 595,000 people.
Status statistics:
- San Diego County’s state-calculated, adjusted number of cases is currently 10.8 cases per 100,000 residents (as of March 2), and the region is in Purple Tier or Tier 1.
- The test positivity rate is 4.2%, placing the county in Tier 3 or the Orange Tier. While the test positivity rate for the county qualifies it at Level 3, the state uses the most restrictive measure – in this case, the adjusted number of cases – and assigns counties to that level. Therefore, the province remains in the purple layer or level 1.
- The district health equality statistic, which looks at the test positivity for areas with the lowest healthy conditions, is 6% and is in the red tier or tier 2. This metric does not move counties to more stringent levels, but should progress to a less restrictive tier .
- The California Department of Public Health reviews counties on a weekly basis. The next report is scheduled for Tuesday March. 9.
Outbreaks in the community:
- On March 2, 11 new outbreaks were confirmed in the community: three in a grocery store, two in a retail setting, two in a corporate setting, two in a faith-based setting, one in a restaurant / bar, and one in a food / beverage processing setting institution.
- In the past seven days (Feb. 24 through March 2), 30 outbreaks were confirmed in the community.
- The number of outbreaks in the community remains above the trigger of seven or more in seven days.
- A community outbreak is defined as three or more COVID-19 cases in an environment and in people from different households in the past 14 days.
To test:
- 13,293 tests were reported to the county on March 2, and the rate of new positive cases was 3%.
- The moving average percentage of positive cases over 14 days is 3.7%. Target is less than 8.0%.
- The 7-day, daily average of tests is 13,099.
Case studies, hospital admissions and IC admissions:
- On March 2, 352 cases were reported to the County. The total of the region is now 261,353.
- 13,179 or 5% of all cases require hospitalization.
- 1,599 or 0.6% of all cases and 12.1% of hospitalized cases had to be admitted to an intensive care unit.
Deaths:
- 25 new COVID-19 deaths were reported on March 2. The total of the region is 3,342.
- Between December 20 and March 2, 16 men and nine women died.
- Of the 25 deaths reported on March 2, two people who died were aged 80 or older, three were in their 70s, 11 in their 60s, seven in their 50s, and two in their 40s.
- 21 had underlying medical conditions, two did not and two had a medical history pending.
More information:
The more detailed data summaries on the The county coronavirus-sd.com website are updated daily around 5pm.