Tom Beddingfield prides himself in being a yes man. In the funeral industry, it’s a must: With families grieving, the last thing some families want to hear is no. “In all the years I’ve been doing this, my biggest thing that I’ve always told my staff is that never tell a family no, whatever their...
South Bay hospital allowed teachers to skip the line for COVID-19 vaccines
Teachers and staff at an affluent South Bay school district can skip the line and get a COVID-19 vaccine — by pretending to be health care workers — at the behest of Good Samaritan Hospital, according to an email obtained by San José Spotlight. Teachers can’t get vaccines in Santa Clara County yet. The county...
Santa Clara County gives green light for previously paused Moderna vaccine
County health officials are now instructing local hospitals to begin administering a lot of Moderna vaccines paused earlier this week due to a potential increased risk of allergic reactions. Santa Clara County received about 21,800 doses of the Moderna Lot 41L20A distributed at the beginning of January, and more than 330,000 of these doses were...
Santa Clara County has yet to post data on the demographics of people vaccinated
Despite a pledge to ensure equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution, Santa Clara County has not posted data on the race or ethnicity of the people it inoculates. Advocates say after COVID-19 took a disproportionate toll on communities of color — including those in Santa Clara County — local health officials should be recording the race of...
Kaiser moves vaccine eligibility back up to patients 75 and older
The only private health care provider in Santa Clara County to vaccinate people under 74 has changed course. After vaccinating people 65 and up for several days, Kaiser Permanente has changed its COVID-19 vaccine age eligibility back to patients 75 years and over — despite California allowing people 65 and up to get vaccinated. The...
San Jose lights up landmarks to remember COVID-19 victims
Five of San Jose’s most recognizable landmarks lit up in a warm amber light Tuesday night to honor the lives lost to COVID-19. The remembrance was part of a national movement as part of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. The sites included San Jose City Hall, Earthquakes Stadium,...
Amid rising COVID-19 deaths, why isn’t Santa Clara County shutting down like it did in March?
Morgues are on the brink of overflowing. Hospitals have fewer beds for patients by the day. More than 1,100 people have died. Yet, in Santa Clara County, people can still shop for perfumes, phones and clothes at the mall. It’s a stark difference from nearly a year ago when officials closed everything down — all nonessential...
San Jose man with heart failure, diabetes, HIV denied room under state COVID-19 program
Anthony Domondon has congestive heart failure, diabetes and HIV – but that wasn’t enough for a hotel room under the state’s program for COVID-19 vulnerable homeless people. “Basically they want me in a body bag before they give me a hotel room,” Domondon told San José Spotlight. Sitting on a curb outside a now-closed Office...
Santa Clara County to stop administering Moderna vaccine lot
After struggling for weeks to expand the South Bay’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Santa Clara County officials are now warning that a specific batch of doses shouldn’t be administered because of an increased risk of allergic reactions. Santa Clara County received about 21,800 doses of the Moderna Lot 41L20A distributed Jan. 5 and Jan. 12. More...
Your COVID-19 vaccine questions, answered
Vaccines for COVID-19 have been slowly rolling out for more than a month now, but questions linger about its availability, who is eligible to receive the vaccine and how much it protects you. Many residents faced confusion, long wait times and inaccurate information about how to get an appointment a day after vaccine eligibility opened...