STATE REVISES VACCINE GUIDANCE TO INCLUDE AGES 65+

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:           Carma Roper, Public Information Officer; croper@inyocounty.us

STATE REVISES VACCINE GUIDANCE TO INCLUDE AGES 65+

INYO COUNTY, CA, January 14, 2021- Yesterday, the California Department of Public Health revised the California COVID-19 vaccination plan to include individuals 65 and older in Phase 1B Tier 1, along with non-medical first responders, teachers, school support staff, and childcare workers, and high-exposure front-line workers in the food and agriculture industry.  Previously, Phase 1B Tier 1 included persons age 75 and over.  This change greatly expands the number of persons eligible for vaccine under the county’s current tier.

Inyo County Public Health and key vaccination partners including Northern Inyo Healthcare District, Southern Inyo Healthcare District, and Vons Pharmacy in Bishop are building the infrastructure to vaccinate the estimated 8,000 people in Phase 1B Tier 1 as quickly as vaccine becomes available.  Vaccine supplies are currently extremely limited in Inyo and throughout the state. Vaccine prioritization in California is as follows:

Phase 1A

Currently vaccinating

Phase 1B

Starting week of January 11

Phase 1C
Estimated start: mid-summer

 

Healthcare workers

 

Long-term care residents

 

1B Tier One:


Individuals 65 and older
 

Those at risk of exposure at work in the following sectors:

  • Education and childcare
  • Emergency service
  • Food and agriculture

 

1B Tier Two:

 

Those at risk of exposure at work in the following sectors:

  • Transportation and logistics
  • Industrial, commercial, residential, and sheltering facilities and services
  • Critical manufacturing

 

Congregate settings with outbreak risk:

  • Incarcerated
  • Homeless


Individuals 50 -64 years of age

 

People 16-49 years of age who have an underlying health condition or disability which increases their risk of severe COVID-19

 

Those at risk of exposure at work in the following sectors:

  • Water and wastewater
  • Defense
  • Energy
  • Chemical and hazardous materials
  • Communications and IT
  • Financial services
  • Government operations / community-based essential functions

 

To receive updates and get on the list to hear when vaccine appointments become available to people in your tier, please visit https://www.inyocounty.us/covid-19/vaccine-information  and sign up for the COVID Vaccine Registration list.