(UPDATE 22:19): San Luis Obispo County opens COVID-19 vaccine eligibility for all residents over the age of 50.
Public health officials say an increase in vaccine supply allows them to extend eligibility to more than 50,000 community members.
On Monday, some residents of San Luis Obispo County said how ecstatic they are now to be eligible for vaccination.
“When I saw this, I felt like I hit the lottery,” said Melinda Luce, a community member.
“[Seeing the announcement] I felt great. I’m 54 years old, so I followed the parentheses carefully and I think rightly, there were others in front of me and that’s how it should have been, “said resident Jason Wells.
For Wells, vaccination means seeing his 85-year-old father in person.
The two haven’t seen each other on FaceTime for almost a year.
“Wow, that makes me shudder to think. I think being separate helps you appreciate when you don’t have that much,” Wells said.
Traci Bradbury, a resident of SLO County, says she is looking forward to returning to some of her favorite local businesses.
“Now I’m just dying to go to the movies. I want to go to the Galaxy Theater in Atascadero,” Bradbury said.
For Melinda Luce, she knows what’s at stake when it comes to COVID-19 after losing her mother to her disease last summer.
She says she is happy to go to the vaccination program.
“I want to help everyone. I want to be part of the solution to this and I want this virus to end,” Luce said.
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Original story: San Luis Obispo County opens COVID-19 vaccine eligibility for all residents over the age of 50.
Public health officials say an increase in vaccine supply allows them to extend eligibility to more than 50,000 community members.
The health department says it has enough to deliver the first 10,000 doses this week and at least 10,000 doses next week.
SLO County has previously opened vaccine eligibility for the following groups:
- Health and community health workers
- Residents and long-term care staff
- Workers in the field of education and childcare
- Food and agricultural workers
- Emergency service workers
- Public transport workers
- Cleaning service workers
- Residents at high risk due to certain severe medical conditions or disabilities
- Residents living or working in a homeless shelter or behavioral health unit
To date, health officials say nearly 110,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered in San Luis Obispo County.
To find out if you are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in SLO County and to register for an appointment, click here.