By Jade Martinez-Pogue, Noozhawk Staff Writer | @MartinezPogue
May 10, 2021
| 6:36 p.m.
Children ages 12 and up in Santa Barbara County and across the country are now eligible to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the emergency-use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine to include children ages 12 to 15.
“The FDA’s expansion of the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to include adolescents 12 through 15 years of age is a significant step in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock.
“Today’s action allows for a younger population to be protected from COVID-19, bringing us closer to returning to a sense of normalcy and to ending the pandemic.”
By Jade Martinez-Pogue, Noozhawk Staff Writer | @MartinezPogue
May 7, 2021
| 7:50 p.m.
For the past two weeks, Santa Barbara County residents younger than age 18 have returned the most positive COVID-19 test results, but only 40% of that age group have already received the vaccine, Public Health Officer Henning Ansorg shared at Friday’s county COVID-19 press briefing.
There have been several outbreaks at various high schools across the county, Ansorg said. While most of the outbreaks were related to student athletes, unsanctioned parties and social events also have been a source of virus transmission, he added.
In the past two weeks, there have been 59 new cases reported among residents younger than age 18, according to Noozhawk’s data tracking.
Timeline of Santa Barbara County’s COVID-19 Toll: Case Highs and Lows and Ever-Changing Policy
The past 10 months of the pandemic cause widespread uncertainty and fear as case numbers fluctuate and businesses constantly adapt to changing guidelines
Countywide hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients peaked at 127 on Tuesday, and have been above 100 for the past week. (Giana Magnoli / Noozhawk photo) By Jade Martinez-Pogue, Noozhawk Staff Writer | @MartinezPogue
December 29, 2020
| 7:08 p.m.
The eruption of the novel coronavirus pandemic sent a shockwave across the world this year, forcing people to adapt to changes in everyday life.
In Santa Barbara County for the past 10 months, residents have been asked to stay at home as much as possible, avoid gatherings with friends and family, and wear masks.
75th COVID-19 virtual conference puts the focus on ICU capacity, vaccines, and mental health
Tracy Lehr / Newschannel 3
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. Santa Barbara County Public Health leaders rescheduled Friday s virtual press conference to Tuesday to make sure people get the information they need before Christmas.
Supervisor Gregg Hart served as moderator.
Panelists included Public Health Officer Henning Ansorg, M.D., and Suzanne Grimmesey from the Department of Behavioral Health.
Dr. Ansorg said vaccines offer a glimmer of hope.
Since frontline health workers and people in care facilities are being vaccinated first, others with lung conditions or a cancer history should contact their primary care physicians to ask about getting vaccinated in 2021.