SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – UC San Diego Health is expanding its vaccination efforts and began vaccinating 65 and elderly patients against COVID-19 on Thursday, marking the beginning of a new phase in vaccine rollout in the region.
UC San Diego Health has now moved to Phase 1B-Tier 1, which includes people 65 and older. And those at risk for workplace exposure in education, childcare, emergency services, and food and agriculture.
The plan is to start immunizing 500 patients per day. And because of a limited supply of vaccines, those doses go to patients whose medical history makes them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19.
Eligible patients will receive a direct invitation to be vaccinated through their electronic health record or a direct phone call from their healthcare provider. anticipated “on a statement from UCSD.
In a press conference Wednesday, San Diego County leaders said the county is still trying to get everyone vaccinated in Phase 1A, which is made up of health professionals and staff.
Chairman of the board of trustees, Nathan Fletcher, said the county should also build a capable large-scale distribution system and have enough people to administer vaccines. There are plans to add super vaccination sites in the South Bay, North County and East County.
At this point, vaccine doses still go primarily to residents of the San Diego County nursing home and to health workers, the state’s highest priority vaccination group.
Scripps Health, Sharp Healthcare and Kaiser all said they are still working on the eligible health professionals in Phase 1A.