Editorial | Despite confusion, progress evident locally in vaccination rollout

Feb. 5—The announcement Thursday that one of the leading health care providers in Santa Cruz County is now taking appointments among patients 65 years and older was welcome news.

Sutter Health/Palo Alto Medical Foundation had lagged behind Dignity Health -Dominican vaccinating this age group, after a directive last month from Gov. Gavin Newsom that vaccinations would be age-based, with the most vulnerable 75+ population first.

Many residents (and Sentinel readers) have expressed confusion over vaccine priorities and providers. And it is somewhat confusing. County health officials have one program, mainly aimed at residents without health insurance or not covered under other health care providers; pharmacies are providing another for nursing homes and congregate care facilities.

The rest mainly are covered through Sutter/PAMF, Dignity and Kaiser Permanente. Sutter/PAMF, for instance, has provided about 11,000 vaccinations at the first three weeks the group's clinic has been open at the flea market site off Soquel Drive. There are about 30,000 Santa Cruz County residents in total over the age of 65.

Dignity reported last week that it was providing 200 vaccines per day at its clinic at Harbor High School, for an approximate total of 800 Dominican patients vaccinated.

But the seeming delay by Sutter/PAMF in moving on to the 65+ population points out an ongoing issue with vaccine disbursement in the county — an uncertain and relatively short supply of doses. Sutter/PAMF cares for more older patients than the other providers, which means it has taken longer to get the 75+ patients vaccinated before moving on to the 65+ patients. Kaiser initially opened up for 65+ vaccinations, but pulled back because of supply issues.

The rollout in California has lagged behind many other states, which considering the state's size, geography and number of health departments is understandable, if somewhat unacceptable. Less than a third of Californians in a recent survey by the Public Policy Institute of California said the state is doing a good job distributing the vaccine.

Meanwhile, the state has designated two giant health insurers, Blue Shield and Kaiser Permanente, with running California's new vaccine distribution system. Just exactly how this will take shape remains a work in progress, with not a lot of details released so far.

Despite the admirable efforts of local people staffing the clinics, the issues and frustration are evident. For instance, Newsom wants to see a date when public schools reopen. But teachers want to ensure they are vaccinated before resuming classroom instruction — and want to know when their families will be vaccinated, because they're concerned about bringing home the virus from school.

Details are hazy on just when the state will release vaccination priority guidelines for educators, childcare workers, food and farmworkers.

Stephen Gray, chief administrative officer for Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center of Santa Cruz and PAMF, told us that the health care provider is still awaiting guidance from the state as to when this next phase might be prioritized, as well as regarding sufficient vaccine supply.

So there is progress. California has been able to ramp up its vaccination rate and now ranks 34th nationally, compared to 45th a few weeks ago. Sutter/PAMF officials say they could offer 2,500 vaccinations a day at their clinic if supply is available. But the clinic wasn't open Thursday, due to a lack of supply.

Even more importantly, research is clear-cut that the vaccines work. All five vaccines with public results or in the pipeline have eliminated deaths from COVID-19. They have also drastically reduced hospitalizations. They also appear to work on the variants that are appearing.

The only thing that will keep vaccines from slowing the spread of disease, and eventually letting all of us return to "normal" life, is the reluctance, and refusal, of a minority of Californians to be vaccinated.

Despite the rollout lags and confusion over priorities and providers, it's important to fight through the fog of fear and conflicting information and get your shot —even if it means waiting on the phone or deciphering how to sign up online.

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