Sonoma County today surpassed 325,000 residents who have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and this weekend the county is expected to surpass 600,000 total doses administered since vaccinations began more than six months ago.
As of today, 75 percent of Sonoma County’s 434,000 residents age 12 and older have received at least one dose of vaccine while 67 percent have been fully vaccinated with either the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine. In total, Sonoma County has administered 597,219 doses and continues to outpace the state and nation averages in the rate of vaccine doses administered.
Meanwhile, more than 45 percent of adolescents between 12 and 15 years old have been partially vaccinated in Sonoma County since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Pfizer vaccine for that age group on May 10.
Despite the progress being made, county health officials today encouraged unvaccinated residents to avoid gatherings over the Fourth of July holiday weekend and to wear facial coverings to prevent the spread of the virus. The county’s case rate and hospitalization rate has been slowly increasing, due primarily to spread of the virus among unvaccinated individuals. To reduce the chance of viral infection as well as community transmission, anyone who is unvaccinated or partially unvaccinated is expected to wear a mask, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health.
“We have made great strides to get the vaccine to as many residents as possible,” said Dr. Sundari Mase, Sonoma County’s Health Officer. “Now that we are in the long tail of our vaccination campaign, we want to encourage that last 25 percent to get vaccinated and enjoy the return to normalcy that those who are vaccinated are experiencing. Getting vaccinated is the best thing you can do to protect yourself and the community from the virus.”
Since the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines arrived in mid-December, Sonoma County health officials, in partnership with hospitals, health centers and pharmacies, have operated or supported a network of vaccine clinics throughout the community. With a focus on equity, many of these clinics have targeted vulnerable and under-served communities.
The county’s vaccination campaign has broadened to make it more convenient for people to get vaccinated, including through mobile clinics and events at schools. The county continues to support three large vaccination clinics – at the Roseland Library, at Grace Pavilion at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds and the Rohnert Park Community Center.
Walk-ups are accepted. Residents also may make vaccine appointments through the myturn.ca.gov web site. Residents who need help making an appointment are encouraged to call the County COVID-19 hotline at 707-565-4667. Residents also may continue to use the County’s vaccination clinic list at SoCoEmergency.org to find an appointment. Many clinics and pharmacies are accepting walk-in patients.
Eligible individuals who are insured are encouraged to first seek a vaccination appointment through their primary health care provider.
For more information, including the latest vaccine numbers, who’s eligible for a vaccine and how to receive a vaccine, community members are encouraged to visit SoCoEmergency.org/vaccine, or call 2-1-1.