San Bernardino County has administered about half the number of COVID-19 vaccines in a single day earlier this week compared to one week ago, according to state data reported Wednesday, May 12.The number of doses increased by 8,912 on Tuesday, May 11, the latest day for which vaccine numbers are available, as compared to doses given on Monday, May 10. One week ago, on May 5, the county gave 16,528 doses that day compared to the day before.Doses administered in the past seven days were reported at 77,317 on Tuesday, the lowest weekly total since mid-April, when statewide numbers became available.The county is behind statewide vaccination rates, data shows. Out of San Bernardino County’s population of all ages, 26.1% are fully vaccinated, below the statewide figure of 35.9%, according to state data. The percent of the county’s total population with at least one dose is 34.8%, compared to 48.4% statewide.San Bernardino County’s vaccination coverage is below that in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties, state data shows.On Wednesday, the county reported an average of 75 coronavirus cases in the past week, a number that has remained nearly the same since early May. The county reported 82 new cases Wednesday as well as six deaths.Here […]

Riverside County’s plans for a coronavirus vaccine clinic at the Hemet Valley Mall are on hold, forcing Hemet and San Jacinto residents to go to Perris or Beaumont if they want the vaccine from a provider in the county’s public health network.The county’s COVID-19 vaccine website on Tuesday afternoon, May 11, showed no clinic locations in Hemet or San Jacinto, which have more than 130,000 residents combined.On Monday, May 3, the county announced its clinic at Hemet’s Alessandro High School would close Friday, May 7, and a new clinic in the mall’s former Sears building run by OptumServe, a state contractor, would open May 5.But on Tuesday, county spokeswoman Brooke Federico said the mall clinic is “on hold.”“OptumServe is reviewing this specific site,” she said via email.In an emailed statement, OptumServe spokesman Aaron Albright said the company is “working with the county to ensure the site is a safe and welcoming environment for residents.”Residents “are encouraged to get vaccinated by any provider with appointments available, including a local pharmacy or clinic,” Federico said, noting the county has clinics at the Chatigny Senior Community Recreation Center in Beaumont and the Riverside University Health System community health center in Perris.Also, a mobile clinic is scheduled […]

During Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors Meeting, Dr. Geoffry Leung, Public Health Officer for Riverside County, said that county anticipates to vaccinate 12 to 15 year olds as soon as Friday or early next week. Dr. Leung explained that they are waiting for national approval and the state’s approval to move forward.You can watch it live beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the player below:https://cloud.castus.tv/vod/rivcotv/embed/602fca4d096acb0007dd1d3a?page=HOME&type=live&embedID=602fca4d096acb0007dd1d3aADVERTISINGPlanning for vaccine age expansionThe FDA expanded Pfizer’s emergency use authorization permitting teenagers to be vaccinated, including children as young as 12 years old. Shots could begin after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adopts the committee’s recommendation. The CDC advisory committee could give the final recommendation during its meeting on Wednesday.Last week, News Channel 3 reported that Riverside County was preparing ahead of time for the potential announcement, ordering additional doses of the Pfizer vaccine.“We are asking for more, we’re asking for more Pfizer for next week,” said Michael Osur, Assistant Director of Public Health for Riverside County told News Channel 3 on May 6.The county currently vaccinates 16 and 17 year olds, however, they must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian in order to get vaccinated.Indio site targeted for asylum-seeker COVID testingOn Monday, News […]

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine was important for Father Francisco Gomez of the Diocese of San Bernardino, so he made sure he showed it off to everyone.After his second dose at the vaccination clinic at the Indio Fairgrounds, he donned a “I have been vaccinated” sticker for about a week “before I couldn’t peel it off and put it on something,” he said. Other parish staffers at Our Lady of Soledad in Coachella made a big deal out of their vaccinations as well, as a way to lead by example, or “vaccinate by example,” Gomez said. The parish is a trusted and sacred space for many Coachella residents, and the more staffers can show them getting inoculated against COVID-19 is safe and effective, they say, the hope is that vaccination numbers will increase in the city.“What we have been trying to include in our messaging is it’s not about someone telling you what you need to be doing, it’s about you being touched by the grace of God in such a way that you yourself become a trusted messenger,” Gomez said. “It’s person-to-person communication that is making more of a difference across the board.”Gomez, joined by representatives from the California Department of Public Health, Desert Healthcare District and Riverside County Public Health, continued […]

The number of COVID-positive patients hospitalized in Riverside County dropped below 70, and two additional virus-related deaths were reported Friday.According to the Riverside University Health System, 63 people countywide are hospitalized with coronavirus, seven less than Thursday, and that includes 17 intensive care unit patients, one more than a day ago.RUHS said that the aggregate number of COVID cases recorded since the public health documentation period began in March 2020 is 299,064, up 125 from Thursday.A total 4,587 deaths from virus-related complications have been recorded in the last 13 months. Thursday’s number was 4,585.The number of known active virus cases countywide is 1,457, down 57 from Thursday. The active count is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current total — 299,064 — according to the county Executive Office. Verified patient recoveries countywide are at 293,020.The coronavirus positivity rate is 1.9%, compared to 2.1% last week. The state-adjusted case rate is 3.4 per 100,000 residents, based on a rolling seven-day average. Last week, it was 3.9 per 100,000.Despite the improving metrics, the county on Tuesday did not meet the threshold required under the governor’s “Blueprint for a Safer Economy” framework to move into the yellow tier, which requires a […]

Officials in Orange County and elsewhere in California are preparing to close a number of COVID-19 mass vaccination sites as bookings for appointments continue to drop dramatically and authorities look to shift doses to mobile vaccine clinics, pharmacies and doctor’s offices.Orange County officials said the demand for first doses has dropped by over 75% since the end of April. As a result, efforts will be made to boost vaccine clinics in neighborhoods. The county said that on June 6, it will close mass vaccination sites at the Anaheim Convention Center, OC Fair & Event Center, Soka University and Santa Ana College.The last first-dose Moderna appointments will be offered Saturday, and the last first-dose Pfizer appointments will be offered May 15.“Vaccine supply has become more plentiful, and alternative distribution channels, such as local pharmacies, hospitals, healthcare systems, community clinics and providers are more actively administering doses,” county officials said.The announcement came a day after officials decided to close the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum mass vaccination site, which will shut down May 23. Requests for first doses have dropped from 4,000 a day to 400, according to the Alameda County Public Health Agency. Focus on vaccine distribution there will also shift to smaller clinics.Last week, Los […]