County of Ventura: Covid 19 Update January 13, 2021

January 13, 2021 COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Press Conference - January 13, 2021

Good Evening,

There are 1,563 new cases for today, 9,008 additional tests, and16additional deaths96 year old male, 80 year old female, 91 year old male, 59 year old female, 86 year old male, 83 year old female, 72 year old female, 31 year old male, 86 year old male, 83 year old female, 69 year old female, 82 year old male, 75 year old male, 82 year old male, 87 year old female, and a 102 year old female.

Our thoughts are with the loved ones of each of the people who have passed away and with the medical staff who cared for them. Please help save lives by following the public health guidance.

Comorbidity information is not reported out of respect for those that have lost their loved ones. Many people that have passed away have had mild comorbidity. Had they not become infected with COVID-19 they still had a long life expectancy with their mild comorbidity. Examples of mild comorbidity include things like pre-diabetes, mild obesity, mild hypertension or other controlled medical conditions that would have still allowed them to live longer lives.

Message from California Department of Public Health

New Tool to Notify People of Vaccine Eligibility to Launch Next Week

SACRAMENTO – In order to increase the pace of COVID-19 vaccine distribution to those at greatest risk, the state is prioritizing individuals 65 and older to receive the vaccine as demand subsides among health care workers.

“There is no higher priority than efficiently and equitably distributing these vaccines as quickly as possible to those who face the gravest consequences,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “Individuals 65 and older are now the next group eligible to start receiving vaccines. To those not yet eligible for vaccines, your turn is coming. We are doing everything we can to bring more vaccine into the state.”

Those in Phase 1A – health care workers and long-term care residents – remain the highest priority to receive vaccines. Demand for the vaccines continues to far exceed supply.

“With our hospitals crowded and ICUs full, we need to focus on vaccinating Californians who are at highest risk of becoming hospitalized to alleviate stress on our health care facilities,” said Dr. Tomás Aragón, Director of the California Department of Public Health and State Public Health Officer. “Prioritizing individuals age 65 and older will reduce hospitalizations and save lives.”

Following a bipartisan letter from nine governors including Governor Newsom on January 8, the CDC announced changes yesterday to its vaccine plan including making more of the coronavirus vaccine supply available to all states. Along with the increase in vaccine supply, the federal government encouraged states to expand the pool of those eligible to receive the vaccine to individuals 65 and older.

The Governor also announced a new system to let people know if they are eligible to receive a vaccine, and if not yet eligible, to register for a notification via email or text when they are eligible. That system is expected to launch next week. A second phase of that system will help counties, cities and others run mass vaccination events. This will include a way for eligible members of the public to schedule their vaccination appointments at those events. Community vaccination events are only one way for eligible Californians to receive their vaccines. When available, the public can also go to their doctor or pharmacy to receive the vaccine.

Governor Newsom has aggressively led the state to increase the pace of vaccine administration. He laid out the goal of 1 million additional vaccines administered by the end of this week. At the direction of the Governor, the state has tackled the problem with a multi-pronged approach, including:

1 Increasing the number of people who can provide vaccinations by more than 100,000 health care professionals

a. Last Monday, added 36,000 dentists to the pool of health care providers who can administer the COVID-19 vaccines. The state has already received anecdotal reports of dentists actively administering vaccines after completing the required COVID-19 training.

b. This expansion comes on the heels a similar waiver in late December allowing pharmacy technicians overseen by licensed pharmacists to administer COVID-19 vaccines. There are 69,000 pharmacy technicians in California.

2. Directing Resources, Driving Commitment

a. The Governor’s office has convened meetings with leaders across the public and private health care system and received commitments to cooperatively accelerate the pace of vaccine administration.

For more information on the state’s efforts to distribute a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine in a fair way to everyone who wants it, visit the Vaccinate All 58 webpage.

Local Vaccine Information

Ventura County Residents or those that work in our County can register for vaccines if they are in Phase 1a Tier 1, 2, 3. If you are not in the current phase do not register. When you show up at the vaccine site you will have to show proof that you are in the current phase and that you live or work in our County.

Please review Phase 1a Tier 1, 2 and 3 before registering. https://www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/prioritization/

Registration portal:https://www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/portal/

Proof of being in the current tiers is required at the vaccination site. Please only register if you are in the current phase. Please do not take an appointment for someone in the current phase. The State portal may allow you to register even if you’re not in the current phase but you will not be able to get a vaccination at the site unless you are in Phase 1a Tier 1,2 or 3.

You will be required to show one of the following four pieces of identification at your vaccination appointment:

Health Care Worker employee badge with photo, OR
Professional license AND a photo ID, OR
Signed letter from employer on facility letterhead AND a photo ID, OR
Payment stub from healthcare provider with your name AND a photo ID

For residents of facilities:

Please provide a medical face sheet or LIC610

The current Phase 1a includes:

Phase 1a Tier 1

Acute care hospital staff who have patient contact will receive first allocations without regard to status in the medical hierarchy (staff includes all workers that work in the individual unit: janitors, housekeepers, maintenance, security, ward clerks, nurses, physicians, techs, respiratory therapists, lab techs, etc.):
ICU staff
COVID holding unit staff
ER staff
Registry nurses working in the above units
All other healthcare workers in the acute care hospital (nurses, doctors, janitors, housekeepers, maintenance, security, ward clerks, nurses, techs, respiratory therapists, lab techs, etc.)
Staff at Skilled Nursing Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities and similar settings for older or medically vulnerable individuals.
Skilled Nursing Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities and similar settings that have registered with the Federal Pharmacy Participation Program (which has contracted Walgreens and CVS to carry out on site vaccination) will have both staff and residents vaccinated together.
All other hospital support units (laboratory, radiology, etc.)
Remaining hospital ancillary staff not previously mentioned
Following vaccination of acute care hospital staff:
Staff at psychiatric hospitals/residential and in-patient mental health facilities
Residents of Skilled Nursing Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities and similar settings for older or medically vulnerable individuals.
Staff and residents of special needs group living
Paramedics, EMTs
Dialysis Centers
Vaccinators

Phase 1a Tier 2

Staff at Intermediate Care Facilities for persons who need non-continuous nursing supervision and supportive care.
Residents of Intermediate Care Facilities for persons who need non-continuous nursing supervision and supportive care.
Intermediate Care Facilities that have registered with the Federal Pharmacy Participation Program (which has contracted Walgreens and CVS to carry out on site vaccination) will have both staff and residents vaccinated together.
Primary Care Clinics, including FQHCs, rural health centers and urgent care clinics in zip codes 93015, 93030, 93033, 93036, 93040 and 93060. (While there are many zip codes with elevated case rates, these are the 6 with rates over 50 and which were centers of elevated rates even before the current surge.)
Jail staff
Home health care and in-home supportive services/Hospice staff
Public Health high risk workers and field staff
Primary Care Clinics, including FQHCs, rural health centers, correctional facility clinics and urgent care clinics not in the above-mentioned zip codes
Private MD Office Staff
Surgical Centers
Dental and other oral health clinics
Jail medical staff
Behavioral health outpatient staff/psychologists and social workers/staff of outpatient substance use disorder and crisis stabilization units
Community health workers including promotoras
Midwives (not vaccinated as in-hospital staff)
Medical Examiner Investigators/DA Investigators
CDPH Licensing & Certification Surveyors
COVID Testing Site workers/COVID hotel site workers
Regional center staff

Phase 1a Tier 3

Other health settings and healthcare workers
Specialty clinics
Laboratory workers
Blood bank workers
Pharmacy staff not working in settings in higher tiers
Physical therapists
Ombudsmen for long term care facilities
Mortuary and cemetery workers

Volunteer Vaccinator Interest Form

The County of Ventura is seeking volunteers to assist with COVID-19 vaccinations. The State of California has provided a list of authorized vaccinators. If you are interested and listed on the form as an authorized vaccinator please complete and submit the Volunteer Vaccinator Interest Form.

www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/