Santa Clara County officials announced Wednesday that people who are 75 or older can now get a COVID-19 vaccine. Even though the state released new guidelines encouraging everyone 65 and up to get vaccinated, Santa Clara County isn’t there yet — it doesn’t have enough vaccines yet for people under age 75. Eligibility for COVID-19...
Santa Clara County warns about vaccine sign-up misinformation sent via texts
Residents of Santa Clara County on Tuesday might have received a text message that said local medical providers had “extra” COVID-19 vaccines and to register for an appointment. According to the county, these texts originated from “unofficial sources” and health providers are still only vaccinating residents in the state’s vaccination Phase 1A, which includes health care...
Morgues at capacity while Santa Clara County sets lofty COVID-19 vaccine goal
Local morgues are running out of space to hold those dying from COVID-19. Three hospital morgues are completely out of space while four more are nearing capacity, Santa Clara County health leaders said Tuesday. The county has brought in three refrigerated trailers, each with a capacity for 60 bodies. Two have been placed at the...
Santa Clara County proposes plan to obtain more vaccination data
Santa Clara County has used less than half the vaccines the county received, but county leaders say the real problem is a lack of data from hospitals on how many shots they’re giving. The Board of Supervisors proposed a plan on Jan. 5 to receive data from every hospital and clinic administering vaccinations in the...
Santa Clara County has given less than half its vaccines, blames skeptical health care workers
Santa Clara County has used less than half of the COVID-19 vaccines it’s received. The county has vaccinated more than 47,000 people after receiving 110,000 vaccines so far, said County COVID-19 Testing Officer Marty Fenstersheib. At least 122,950 Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been allotted for the county, according to its website. The 47,000 people...
Officials won’t say how many COVID-19 vaccines have been given in Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County health officials won’t say how many vaccines have been administered so far in the county, despite repeated attempts by this news organization to obtain that information. County health officials are pointing to the state for that data. The state is pointing right back at the county. And the public is robbed of...
How COVID-19 is straining Santa Clara County’s 911 system
The rise in COVID-19 cases isn’t just straining hospitals — it’s also taking a toll on the county’s 911 system. Santa Clara County officials on Wednesday shared a sobering picture of Silicon Valley’s ambulance system crumbling under the pressures of the pandemic. “Our health care system is inundated with patients. This also includes our 911...
As COVID-19 cases surge, San Jose extends paid sick leave protections
As COVID-19 cases shatter records in Silicon Valley and hospital capacity dwindles, San Jose lawmakers took steps to ensure essential workers receive paid sick leave until June. In the absence of federal COVID-19 paid sick leave protections, the San Jose City Council unanimously voted Jan. 5 to is extend local sick leave benefits until mid 2021. Under...
Santa Clara County considers penalties for inequitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution
Santa Clara County officials are publicly worrying whether area health care providers will stick to the guidelines when it comes to distributing COVID-19 vaccines, and deliberating what the county could and should do if they don’t. Already, in at least two cases so far, private health care providers in California — including one in the...
New COVID-19 relief fund dedicated to East San Jose businesses
East San Jose businesses and nonprofits struggling to survive may have gained a new lease on life through a new community COVID-19 relief fund. San Jose Planning Commissioner Rolando Bonilla said the East San Jose business community, which has experienced difficulty accessing government aid, was left out of conversations about solutions to help them weather...