Where San Diego COVID-19 vaccinations stand
San Diego has become a model for how to vaccinate as efficiently as possible
Maria Simpson / Assistant News Editor
Almost one year ago, all of our lives were turned upside down when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in the United States, and our world has not looked the same since. However, scientists’ tireless work to combat the virus has found a vaccine within this short period of time.
The COVID-19 vaccine first became available in the U.S. in Dec. 2020, through two companies, Moderna and Pfitzer-BioNTech. These are the current manufacturers and distributors of the vaccine, but three more vaccines are in clinical trials, soon to be released for distribution.
Both of the current vaccines are mRNA vaccines. According to the CDC’s website, these work by teaching our bodies to create a protein which then triggers the formation of antibodies to fight the protein, creating immunity. It is important to remember that this process can sometimes take a few weeks to occur, so COVID-19 can still be contracted for a little while after getting the vaccine. Because the body is being exposed to a protein similar to COVID-19 when vaccinated, side effects such as fever, aches, or fatigue are possible. However, according to the CDC, these symptoms are normal and they are also a sign that the vaccine is taking effect.
Both of the vaccines that are currently available require two doses to become fully effective. The first dose starts to build protection in the body and the second dose boosts that protection to its full capability. According to the trials conducted on the COVID-19 vaccines, Moderna is 94.1% effective and Pfitzer-BioNTech is 95% effective.
Right now, supplies are limited, so the first priorities recommended by the CDC are healthcare workers and at-risk individuals. With this information, all counties have laid out their own plans for how the vaccines will be administered throughout the population.
San Diego County is currently in Phase 1B of vaccinations. People at top priority to receive the vaccine now include healthcare workers, long-term care residents, and individuals 65 or older. Anyone can go online or call to check if they are eligible and can sign up to be notified once the state has reached a phase where they can be vaccinated. Phase 1C will include employees in food and agriculture, emergency services, child care, and education, residents ages 50 to 64 and high-risk individuals such as those with underlying health issues. When California reaches Phase 2, the vaccine will become available to everyone over the age of 16.
COVID-19 rates in San Diego are still high and the county remains in the most restrictive purple tier. However, hope is on the horizon. 508,287 doses have already been administered in San Diego County as of Feb. 9, according to California’s COVID-19 website. There are several locations throughout the county that are administering the vaccine daily. USD will have a vaccination site on campus as well, and will be following the state’s vaccination phase guidelines. Two of the county’s locations, the Petco Park Vaccination Super Station (which has already administered 100,000 doses) and the RIMAC vaccination site, are both run by UCSD and are asking for volunteers to help run vaccination appointments. Anyone over 18 can volunteer, and volunteers that work at least three shifts will be eligible to receive the vaccine. The Petco site has also been giving out their extra vaccines to people who wait at the site at the end of the day, so no doses are going to waste.
As vaccines are administered to more citizens, ICU capacity rates will begin to fall and counties can begin to lessen restrictions on gatherings. However, health care officials are urging that even after being vaccinated, one should continue to distance themselves, wear a mask, and wash their hands so that we stay safe and stay on the fastest route possible to overcome COVID-19.