The first COVID-19 vaccines have been authorized for use in the United States. Vaccinations have begun. These vaccines were tested among tens of thousands of volunteers to ensure that they are safe and effective. When you are eligible to get a dose of vaccine, the Public Health Department strongly recommends that you get one.
Who is Currently Eligible to be Vaccinated?
All healthcare personnel in Phase 1A are currently eligible to be vaccinated. In addition, some health systems in the County are now allowing Santa Clara County residents who are age 75 or older to receive their vaccine.
Eligibility for COVID-19 vaccine is determined by state and federal criteria. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has announced that all individuals in Phase 1A are eligible to be vaccinated, and that healthcare providers may begin offering doses to additional groups in Phase 1B Tier 1 after appropriate efforts have been made to reach higher priority groups and when demand from people in Phase 1A has slowed down.
Individuals who are eligible to be vaccinated, should contact their healthcare provider for more information or to make an appointment:
Kaiser members should contact their primary care provider here or contact the Kaiser appointment or advice line to determine their eligibility and schedule an appointment.
Eligible individuals who receive primary care from Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF)should contact PAMF to schedule their vaccination appointment.
Eligible individuals who receive their primary care from Stanford Healthcare should contact Stanford to schedule an appointment. Online scheduling will begin the week of January 11th.
Eligible individuals whose primary care provider is Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Hospital & Clinics (SCVMC) can be vaccinated through the County’s Health and Hospital System. Schedule a vaccination appointment here.
Eligible individuals whose primary care provider is not with Kaiser, PAMF, Stanford, or SCVMC can be vaccinated through:
The County’s Health and Hospital System. Click here to schedule an appointment.
El Camino Health - Appointments begin on January 19. Click here to schedule an appointment.
Good Samaritan Hospital - Click here to schedule an appointment.
Regional Medical Center - Click here to schedule an appointment.
Who Will be Eligible to Receive the Vaccine Next?
The federal and state government have established phases for when different populations are eligible to receive vaccine. Currently, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has instructed all counties in California to vaccinate persons in “Phase 1A” which includes healthcare personnel and residents of long-term care facilities (e.g., nursing homes). In addition, CDPH has now provided guidance that healthcare providers may begin offering vaccine doses to some Phase 1B Tier 1 populations if appropriate efforts have been made to reach higher priority groups and vaccine demand has slowed down in the currently eligible phases. CDPH is in the process of developing further direction for healthcare providers and counties related the groups included in Phase 1B and 1C.
Phase 1A
Healthcare personnel
Staff and residents of Long-Term Care Facilities
CURRENT PHASE — 1A
Tier 1
Acute care, psychiatric, and correctional facility hospital staff
Residents and staff at skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and similar settings for older or medically vulnerable individuals
Paramedics, EMTs, and others providing emergency medical services
Dialysis centers
Tier 2
Intermediate care facilities for persons who need non continuous nursing supervision and supportive care
Home health care an in-home supportive services
Community health workers, including promotoras
Public health field staff
Primary Care clinic workers, including Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Centers, correctional facility clinics, and urgent care clinics
Tier 3: Other healthcare workers including:
Specialty clinics
Laboratory workers
Dental and other oral health clinics
Pharmacy staff not working in settings at higher tiers
Phase 1B
Tier 1
Individuals 75 and older
Those at risk of exposure at work in the following sectors: education, childcare, emergency services, and food and agriculture
Tier 2
Individuals 65 -74 years of age
Those at risk of exposure at work in the following sectors: transportation and logistics; industrial, commercial, residential, and sheltering facilities and services; critical manufacturing
Congregate settings with outbreak risk: incarcerated and homeless
Phase 1C*
Individuals 50 -64 years of age
People 16-49 years of age and have an underlying health condition or disability which increases their risk of severe COVID-19 Those at risk of exposure at work in the following sectors: water and wastewater; defense; energy; chemical and hazardous materials; communications and IT; financial services; government operations / community-based essential functions *Subject to change. Not yet finalized by CDPH
https://www.sccgov.org/sites/covid19/pages/covid19-vaccine-information-for-public.aspx