In early and mid December 2020, the FDA authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for use in the United States. California created a tiered system to distribute the limited vaccinations to those who are most likely to become exposed to the virus. Prioritization is based on the State Vaccine Advisory Workgroups and the national CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
| Phase 1A | Phase 1B Tier 1 | Phase 1B Tier 2 | Phase 1B Tier 3 |
| Mid December – Late February | Early February – Late March | After Phase 1B Tier 1 | After Phase 1B Tier 2 |
| Hospital staff, Medical first responders, Long Term Care staff and residents, all other health care workers | People age 65+, Frontline Essential Workers including: education, childcare, emergency workers, food and agriculture | Transportation and logistics; industrial, commercial, residential, and sheltering facilities; critical manufacturing; incarcerated individuals in jails and prisons; homeless individuals | People age 50+, people age 16-49 with underlying medical conditions or a disability, water and waste management, legal/defense, energy, IT and communications, financial services, chemicals/hazardous materials, government operations and community-based essential functions. |
A handy infograph has been provided by the Public Health Services of San Joaquin County outlining the COVID-19 vaccination schedule.
The California Department of Public Health–under Acting Director Sandra Shewry and Acting State Health Officer Erica S. Pan, MD, MPH–released a statement outlining the recommended allocation guidelines for COVID-19 vaccines during Phase 1A in early December 2020.
Click here for CDPH Allocation Guidelines for the COVID-19 Vaccine.
A total of 34,025 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been provided to San Joaquin County health care providers as of January 15, 2021. At this time there are enough vaccinations for all residents in the three tiers of Phase 1A. Vaccines from other manufacturers are expected to be produced and shipped, and information will be updated on the San Joaquin County Public Health Service (SJCPHS) web page when that happens.
Click here to see the SJCPHS web page on the COVID-19 vaccine.
Even with the vaccine, health care officials stress that it is important to continue to follow the recommended safety precautions. Wear a mask, practice physical distancing, wash your hands for twenty seconds, and stay home if you are sick.
