Frontline healthcare workers in Contra Costa County are beginning to receive coronavirus vaccinations.
Once they’re vaccinated, staff and residents of long-term care facilities will be next. Contra Costa Health Services Director Anna Roth said the county received 9,715 doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine.
"All doses of the shipment will be distributed to acute care hospitals in the county to immunize frontline workers who are working in high exposure settings," Roth told KCBS Radio. "These are places like the emergency department, intensive care units."
An estimated 22,000 more doses are expected next week with CVS, Walgreens and other pharmacies, making them available to staff and residents of nursing homes the week of December 28.
County Health Officer Dr. Chris Farnitano told the Board of Supervisors that COVID-19 "is everywhere" and most who contract it are unwilling to share information with public health contact tracers.
"We reach 70 to 80% of cases, but only 40% of those are willing to even share with us their contact information," Dr. Farnitano explained.
Both health officials said distributing the vaccine is a big step, but won’t stop the COVID-19 situation from getting worse.
It will potentially get much worse before it gets better.
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