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Alpine County Health Department, 75-B Diamond Valley Rd., Markleeville, CA 96120 Alpine County Board of Supervisors, Phone: (530) 694-2281 District 1: January Riddle, District 2: Ron Hames, District 3: Katherine Rakow, District 4: Terry Woodrow, District 5: David Griffith Wednesday December 16, 2020 COVID-19 (Coronavirus) vaccine An essential tool to getting back to normal The first shipments of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are arriving in California this week. We will not be receiving the Pfizer product, but expect to receive the Moderna vaccine next week. Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and approval by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup is expected this weekend. If all goes smoothly, vaccine should begin shipping as early as Sunday, and we will receive our first allotment sometime next week. We anticipate that by the end of December local healthcare workers including first responders will be offered vaccine. As more vaccine is allocated to Alpine County, we will expand vaccination to other essential personnel and the community, focusing initially on higher risk people, such as those with underlying medical conditions that put them at significant risk of complications from infection. As vaccine becomes more widely available, we will reach out to the community, and notify you of the categories of people who will become eligible for vaccination, such as law enforcement and fire, school personnel, and those >65 years of age. Stay tuned for more details! Our state health situation is dire - cases have been increasing at an exponential rate, and ICU’s in California and Nevada are struggling under the strain. The state just placed an order for 5,000 body bags today – a hint of things to come. If we all abide by the Regional Stay Home Order, we will have a better chance of getting infection rates down, as we saw in the spring, saving lives, preventing disability, and allowing more business and social activity with modifications. The Regional Stay Home Order instructs Californians to stay at home as much as possible to limit mixing with other households, which can lead to the spread of COVID-19. It allows access to critical sectors and allows for outdoor activities to preserve physical and mental health. The temporary but necessary closure will help stop the surge and prevent further overwhelming of our region's ICU capacity. Public Health Brief Richard O. Johnson, M.D., MPH Nichole Williamson Public Health Officer HHS Director Office: [PHONE REDACTED], Ext 249 Office: [PHONE REDACTED] e-mail: [EMAIL REDACTED] 24/7/365 Emergency Contact Number Dispatch: [PHONE REDACTED], Ext 330 Warm Line: [PHONE REDACTED] ---PAGE BREAK--- Alpine County Health Department, 75-B Diamond Valley Rd., Markleeville, CA 96120 Alpine County Board of Supervisors, Phone: (530) 694-2281 District 1: January Riddle, District 2: Ron Hames, District 3: Katherine Rakow, District 4: Terry Woodrow, District 5: David Griffith This is not a time to let down our guard! As public health experts learn more about the protection vaccines provide, it’s important to keep using all the tools available to us to help stop the pandemic. This includes wearing masks, washing hands, staying 6 feet apart, minimizing gatherings, and signing up for CA Notify. California's plan for the distribution and administration of a COVID-19 vaccine is guided by the following overarching principles: • Ensuring the COVID-19 vaccine meets safety requirements • Ensuring the vaccine is distributed and administered equitably, at first to those with the highest risk of becoming infected and spreading COVID-19 Recommendations as to who gets vaccines first are being made with the following goals in mind: - decrease death and serious disease as much as possible - preserve functioning of society - reduce the extra burden COVID-19 is having on people already facing disparities. On December 14th, Governor Gavin Newsom launched “Vaccinate All 58,” California’s campaign for a safe, fair, and equitable vaccine for all 58 counties in the state. “Hope is here. As our first doses of vaccine arrive, the promise of ending the pandemic is on the horizon. By taking collective, inclusive action across all 58 counties to get people vaccinated, we can get through to a healthier future for all,” said Governor Newsom. “This is a moment for hope, and it is also a time to remain vigilant as we face the most intense surge yet. While we have prepared for this surge with beds and equipment, staffing shortages are real and impact our medical system. There’s light at the end of the tunnel and I am calling on all Californians to do our part to get us through this – wear a mask, reduce mixing, stay home, stop the spread and save lives. Together we will get through this.” Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines by reading: CDC’s Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination COVID-19 I Alpine County, CA - Official Website Warm Line: [PHONE REDACTED]