Health worker Kaesa Footracer gets vaccinated (Photo – Jenny McLeod))
Data and science have guided Pasadena’s response to COVID-19 from the start of the pandemic. That continues to be true when it comes to vaccines.
By News Desk
The City of Pasadena continues to distribute and administer the approved safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines as quickly as possible. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine have received approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), require two doses, and provide similar efficacy. The Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) is managing the vaccine distribution and dispensing process according to the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
Phases and tiers (subject to change)
PPHD is working with healthcare system partners to make vaccine access equitable and available to as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, in the order of the state prioritization:
Phase 1a
Vaccinating now:
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- Healthcare Workers providing direct care
- Residents and staff of long-term care facilities
Phase 1b
- Tier One:
- People ages 75 years and over;
- Those at risk of exposure at work in education, childcare, emergency services, and food and agriculture
- Tier Two
- People ages 65-74 years;
- Those at risk of exposure at work in transportation and logistics; industrial, commercial, residential, and sheltering facilities and services; critical manufacturing
- Congregate settings with outbreak risk: incarcerated and homeless
Phase 1c
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- Individuals 50 -64 years of age
- People 16-64 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
Skilled Nursing Facilities
Pasadena has a disproportionately high number of long-term care facilities compared to neighboring jurisdictions. Thirteen of Pasadena’s Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) and 97 assisted living and residential care facilities enrolled in the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-term Care (LTC) Program. The program has partnered with local pharmacies that will facilitate safe vaccination of this critical patient population, and other individuals who qualify for Phase 1 a.
- All Skilled Nursing Facilities are scheduled to have had at least one vaccine visit with the pharmacies by the week of January 11th. PPHD is also administering vaccines to staff of local skilled nursing and assisted living facilities and dialysis centers this week, and continues to vaccinate Pasadena Fire Department Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics.
New Website
The City of Pasadena has also launched a new webpage with vaccine information to keep the community updated. For more information on vaccine administration and planning, visit the website or call (626) 744-6000.
Healthcare providers who are eligible and able to do so are encouraged to sign up to receive and provide vaccine. The provider registration portal is COVIDReadi.
Source: City of Pasadena. Edited by Ann Hunnewell
When the lower-tier people are entitled to be vaccinated, how do they know where to go and what to do if they’re not affiliated with any medical group, or any other group for that matter?
“Data and science have guided Pasadena’s response to COVID-19 from the start of the pandemic. That continues to be true when it comes to vaccines.” That’s a bit of an overstatement:
PPH declined to provide any data or science when Council was debating whether to lift the citywide plastic bag fee, and they ultimately decided based on their personal grocery bag anecdotes and a shrug;
Council and DOT certainly didn’t base their decisions to close the Rose Bowl Loop to walkers and cyclists—then open it for 3 days and close it to drivers—then shut it again based on data and science (or human psychology);
and again with deciding to allow restaurants to stay open when the rest of LA County closed, so people flocked from all over the county to share Covid space in Pasadena.
There should be a “mostly” or “often tried to” qualifier in that subheader statement…