COA has been attending the vaccine planning meetings at the California Dept. of Public Health to make sure optometry is prioritized, there is no provider discrimination, and that optometry is included in the planning process. We are advocating for optometry to be spelled out specifically in the guideline so there is no confusion as to when optometrists are eligible for the vaccine. We also met with the associations representing public health officers to understand how independent optometrists will have access to the vaccine and to make sure optometry is included in their planning at the community level.
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Allocation Guidelines for COVID-19 Vaccine
Allocation Guidelines for COVID-19 Vaccine
COA has confirmed that optometrists in California will be immunized in Phase 1a, at the same time dentists and other specialty clinics are eligible for the vaccine. This will likely occur for most optometrists in the first quarter of the year. Because supply is limited, the state has prioritized vaccine access.
Optometry falls under Phase 1a, Tier 3 of COVID-19 vaccine allocation recommendation. Optometric staff and opticians are in the same Tier as optometrists.
How do I get vaccinated?
How do I get vaccinated?
COA has compiled a list of counties (below) with details on how health care providers can access vaccines. If there is no information for your county, a new crowdsourced list might have helpful information. Hundreds of volunteers have been calling hospitals, pharmacies and other medical centers to compile information about each California county’s vaccination availability. Click here for the crowdsourced list.
More locations are planning to offer the vaccine, once additional vaccine is available. CVS and Walgreens are vaccinating long term care/skilled nursing/assistive care settings.
Another option is to check with your primary care provider. Let them know you are a health care provider with direct patient contact in Tier 1a.
Kaiser Permanente is offering vaccination opportunities to all health care personnel, including optometrists and staff not affiliated with Kaiser. Schedule an e-visit.
California officials are creating a new, centralized system to deliver COVID-19 immunizations to residents more quickly than the fractured and localized model they have now. The state is also rolling out a new website, MyTurn.ca.gov, to notify people when they are eligible to receive the vaccine and schedule an appointment.
County Public Health Offices
County Public Health Offices
The counties are responsible for logistics, planning, procedures, and allocations so that COVID-19 vaccines can be effectively distributed. Most counties will be providing regular updates over the coming weeks and months to help everyone in their counties understand how and when they are eligible to get vaccinated.
It is understood that hospitals, health care systems, and community clinics will administer vaccines according to each county's distribution plan. Local health departments will send notifications several ways, and those plans are still being solidified on a county-by-county basis. COA is reaching out to county health departments and offering to help notify optometrists that are not affiliated with a health system when they are eligible for a vaccine.
Generally, there will be various "points of dispensing" throughout the community and individual providers will be notified when there is enough vaccine for health care workers in their tier. Please be aware that counties will go "out of order" to ensure doses are not wasted. Also, we have been told we can expect a lot of overlap in Tiers, so one Tier may not be done before another Tier opens up.
Get the latest information on the distribution of vaccines from your county health department (some counties have yet to address vaccines on their websites; in this case, the link will be for the county COVID site. Please check back regularly for any updates):
Alameda County - To get a vaccine in Alameda County, you should first contact your own health care provider – some of them are now vaccinating health care workers who are their patients/members. If that doesn’t work, you can be invited to a county vaccine clinic. Follow this link: Health Care Providers. Please note, this is NOT a registration to receive vaccine. The information provided is kept confidential and will allow Alameda County to contact you with an invitation.
Alpine County - Now accepting appointment requests for vaccination. Please call the Health Department at 530-694-2146 and talk to Jessica, Monday – Thursday, after 8:30 AM.
Butte County - ODs and staff are able to get COVID vaccines at both Enloe Hospital (530-332-9520) and Oroville Hospital (530-538-3379).
Contra Costa County - Optometrists are now eligible for a vaccine as a "specialty clinic." You can either use this form to submit your request or email John Muir Health at VaccinationClinicSchedule@johnmuirhealth.com with your email address, phone number and number of staff to be vaccinated.
El Dorado County - All tiers can register for the vaccine, please complete this form to register your practice: https://forms.gle/pxnsEaHZPrY97jnn9
Fresno County - The Fresno County Department of Public Health is currently providing COVID-19 vaccines for healthcare workers at the Fresno Fairgrounds. Click here for more information from Fresno County.
Glenn County - Currently vaccinating all Phase 1A tiers. Call (530) 934-6588 M-F 8am to 5pm to make an appointment.
Humboldt County - Here is a link to a Google survey that allows you to be prioritized for vaccine. https://forms.gle/5JsUyZLkf5VN5Tda8. Once you’ve filled out the survey you should be contacted by email with instructions on registering for your vaccine within 2 weeks.
Inyo County - Currently vaccinating all Phase 1A tiers. Register to be contacted when appointments become available.
Kern County - Health care workers can call the Wonderful Wellness Centers at 661-720-2660 to make appointment and receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Lost Hills and Delano.
Lake County - Healthcare providers can contact mhoac@lakecountyca.gov or 707-263-8174 to be added to a spreadsheet for inclusion in an upcoming clinic. You will be asked for a clinic name, best contact person, phone number, type of clinic/practice and number of people needing vaccinations.
Los Angeles County - Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is providing vaccination in five large vaccination point of dispensing sites called MegaPODs for healthcare workers (HCW) in Phase 1A. The MegaPODs will be held every day from January 19 to February 14 and additional dates may be added as needed. In order to receive vaccination at a MegaPOD, HCWs must make an appointment in advance through the Vaccination for Healthcare Workers website and provide documentation. The MegaPOD vaccine appointments are for the Pfizer vaccine and are drive-up only.
Madera County - If you are an organization/entity that falls in Phase 1A complete this survey: COVID Vaccination Phase 1A Organization Survey. They will contact you to schedule your staff for vaccinations.
Mariposa County - If you have not yet been contacted to schedule an appointment, please email Mariposacovid19@gmail.com.
Mendocino County - Contact Tami at the Ukiah Public Health Dept and she can sign you up for a vaccine if you practice in the Ukiah area. Her phone number is 707-463-7794. If she doesn’t answer, just leave a message telling her you are an optometrist who wants the vaccine.
Monterey County - The Monterey County Health Department is organizing vaccine clinics for Phase 1a health care workers who do not have the opportunity to be vaccinated at their worksite. Health care agencies seeking vaccination opportunities for themselves and their health care workers at these clinics can indicate their interest by clicking here. Please submit one request per health care agency (facility) only.
Napa County - Currently vaccinating all Phase 1A tiers. Notify the county of your interest in receiving a vaccine by completing this form.
Orange County - You can register for vaccination via this link: https://covid19.othena.com/patient-registration. A brief how-to video describing the process is available here.
Placer County - You can register for vaccination here: https://www.placer.ca.gov//PlacerPOC
Riverside County - Currently vaccinating Tier 3. Sign-up for an appointment at the county's vaccine clinic days.
Sacramento County - Sacramento County Public Health is now vaccinating persons with the COVID-19 vaccine who fall into Phase 1a, Tier 3. Register for an appointment at a Safeway Pharmacy. A list is available here. Fill out the Immunization Consent Form AND the CDC pre-vaccination screening form before appointment.
San Bernardino County - San Bernardino County residents can schedule an appointment here: https://bit.ly/38Ypfxg
San Diego County - Vaccine is now available for health care providers at Petco Park. Click here for more information.
San Francisco County - If you would like yourself or your staff to be vaccinated, please contact us at dph.doc.outpatientunit@sfdph.org and we will connect you with one of our vaccination partners. Please include the total # of their staff that need to be vaccinated, the name of the practice, the contact person at the practice, and the contact person's email address & telephone number.
San Joaquin County - Please fill out this survey from San Joaquin County Public Health Services to collect contact information and assess vaccination needs for your practice. The deadline to complete this survey is close of business January 14. This survey will help Public Health coordinate COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Please continue to refer to http://www.sjcphs.org/covid19/COVID19_Vaccine.aspx for the most up to date county information about the vaccine for healthcare providers.
San Luis Obispo County - Optometrists in San Luis Obispo County who are providing direct, in-person clinical care and are not already set to receive the vaccine through their employer may now register for an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine from the County Public Health Department. Click here to register: Vaccine Registration Information
San Mateo County - San Mateo County is able to vaccinate those in Phase 1a who are currently providing in-person patient care/services, and who live or work in San Mateo County. Healthcare workers who are Kaiser members (those who are covered by health plans from Kaiser Permanente) and fit into Phase 1a Tiers 1, 2, or 3, may be able to obtain COVID-19 vaccination by contacting their primary care provider at Kaiser. Please complete the attestation form if you are interested in attending a San Mateo County Mass Vaccination Clinic and to confirm you are eligible.
Santa Clara County - Doctors of optometry and staff working in Santa Clara County can register now. Click here to register. Indicate "Private Medical Office" or "Healthcare Clinic" in the drop down list.
Shasta County - Contact Maria Corona at mcornona@co.shasta.ca.us or (530) 225-5298.
Sierra County - Currently vaccinating Phase 1A. If you have not been contacted by the county to receive your vaccine, please contact Sierra County Public Health at 530-993-6700 or Email.
Solano County - Fill out this interest form to be contacted about scheduling a vaccine appointment.
Stanislaus County - Stanislaus is working to assess the amount of vaccine needed and the community capacity to provide it. Please take less than 5 minutes and complete this short survey to begin the process. Also please fill out this spreadsheet and list everyone in your office that wants to be vaccinated. Return the spreadsheet to C19Vaccinations@schsa.org.
Sutter County - COA has sent Sutter County a list of all the optometrists who practice in Sutter. You should be receiving an email soon.
Tulare County - Fill out the Tulare County COVID Vaccine Interest Form to sign up for updates on vaccine availability and notifications on when and where you can get vaccinated. Fill out the interest form today at: https://arcg.is/0KKez4.
Ventura County - Ventura County Residents or those that work in our County can register for vaccines if they are in Phase 1A. If you are not in the current phase please do not register. Registration portal:https://www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/portal/.
Yolo County - Currently vaccinating Phase 1A. Please sign up for COVID vaccine clinics at: https://forms.gle/nfYq3QewtYivgpMN9. The link is intended for those who work in Yolo County but those who work in other counties and live in Yolo County can also sign up if they are unable to get the vaccine through their workplace or county where they work.
Yuba County - COA has sent Yuba County a list of all the optometrists who practice in Yuba. You should be receiving an email soon.
CA Vaccine Distribution Plan
CA Vaccine Distribution Plan
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