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County Of Sonoma › Administrative Support & Fiscal Services › County Administrator's Office › Weekly Roundup for November 12 2021
County Administrator's Office

Weekly Roundup for Nov. 12, 2021

Published: November 12, 2021

New cases have edged up recently as we enter the winter season and the holidays when we spend more time indoors. Public health officials say using mitigation measures are vital to avoiding a surge in cases and hospitalizations in the coming months. 

With pediatric vaccines now available, parents are encouraged to reach out to their pediatrician or a local pharmacy. Pharmacy appointments can be made through Myturn.ca.gov. Vaccines also will be available at clinics planned for school sites.

This remains a pandemic of the unvaccinated, with the unvaccinated accounting for most hospitalizations and deaths. Health officials warn that the unvaccinated are putting themselves and others at risk by choosing not to get vaccinated. Nearly all of the 410 reported COVID-19 deaths that have occurred in the county have been unvaccinated residents.

Watch this week’s COVID-19 community briefing with county health experts:  
https://www.youtube.com/c/CountyofSonoma/featured

View all COVID-19 data in Sonoma County here:  
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/1edbb41952a8417385652279305e878d

Today’s digest provides helpful and important updates on the following:

  1. Update on vaccine distribution, including for children ages 5-11
  2. Testing & vaccine clinic schedule update
  3. Helpful guidance for holiday gatherings, travel
  4. COVID-19 community resources & support
  5. Other news items from County of Sonoma

Update on Vaccine Distribution in Sonoma County

The vaccines remain powerfully effective against severe illness and death. To date, 3.4 percent of the newly eligible children in the county have received their first dose as the pediatric vaccine starts rolling out. The expanded number of eligible residents means that 79.6 percent of our 5 and older population is now fully or partially vaccinated.

As of Tuesday, 46,669 individuals in Sonoma County have received a booster shot, including 9,220 people aged 50 to 64 and 7,159 people aged 18 to 49. That means nearly 60 percent of residents over age 65 who are currently eligible for a vaccine booster have received their shot.

Fact sheet on booster shots, including who, when, where and why:
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/COVID-19/booster-vaccines-fact-sheet--en.pdf

In partnership with the Sonoma County Office of Education, vaccination clinics are being held at designated schools to serve families and children who do not have convenient or affordable access to healthcare providers.

View a list of school clinics here:
https://www.scoe.org/pub/htdocs/school_staff_immunization.html?fbclid=IwAR3vlYwml08vYAokQQzbq2wUMx7HCZ7nXQHNVIql6N3HIbriACc3Z2RKQNk

Learn more from the Sonoma County Office of Education:
https://www.scoe.org/pub/htdocs/school_staff_immunization.html

Sutter Health pediatrician Dr. Brian Prystowsky explains the benefits of the pediatric vaccine:  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDr8-6cyY20

State of California videos on COVID-19 vaccine safety, including the pediatric vaccine:  
https://www.youtube.com/user/CAPublicHealth/videos

In addition, webinars next week hosted by county Health Services and the Sonoma County Office of Education in English and Spanish will give parents an opportunity to ask questions.

A webinar in English will be streamed live on Facebook at 5 p.m. on Tuesday (Nov. 16) and be repeated in Spanish at 4 p.m. on Nov. 17:
https://www.facebook.com/CountyofSonoma

The briefings will be recorded and quickly made available for viewing on the county’s YouTube channel in English and Spanish:
https://www.youtube.com/c/CountyofSonoma

There have been 843 COVID-19 cases in county schools since classes started in August. Of these cases, 751 are students and 92 are staff members. 

More data on school cases:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/1edbb41952a8417385652279305e878d/page/page_44/?draft=true

Upcoming Opportunities for Testing, Vaccination & Boosters

The county’s top priority remains getting first and second doses administered to get more people fully vaccinated and protected, even with booster shots approved for certain groups. 

The County’s vaccine clinics webpage is continually updated to make it easier to see what clinics are operating each day, where they are located and how to make an appointment. 

Residents who need help making a vaccination or testing appointment may contact the Sonoma County Testing and Vaccine hotline at 707-565-4667 (4701 in Spanish).

View the vaccine clinics and appointment page here:
https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/vaccine-information/clinics/

If you have symptoms or have had a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, you should be tested regardless of your vaccination status. Appointments are strongly recommended as walk-ins are limited. 

Quarantine if you have been in close contact (within 6 feet of someone for a total of 15 minutes over a 24-hour period) with someone who has COVID-19, unless fully vaccinated. 

For details or appointments at COVID-19 testing clinics, including a pop-up testing calendar, please visit:   https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/testing-and-tracing/

Helpful Guidance for Holiday Gatherings & Travel

People planning to travel and attend gatherings over the holidays should make sure they have proper documents required by some destinations, airlines and events to prove their vaccination or testing status. According to guidance from the CDC, people who are not vaccinated should avoid travel and holiday gatherings.

Getting vaccinated now is the best way to protect you, your family and your friends from becoming infected with COVID-19 and avoid another surge in cases like we witnessed last year over the holidays.

Obtain a digital copy of your California vaccine record here:  
https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/

If you have lost your vaccine card and your digital record gives you an error, ask your primary care provider to provide you with a copy of your immunization record.

More tips for protecting yourself and others this holiday season:
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Tips-for-Protecting-Yourself-and-Others-This-Holiday-Season.aspx

COVID-19 Community Resources and Support

Other County of Sonoma News