Santa Barbara County Public Health data shows vaccine gap between North and South counties
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – Santa Barbara County leaders are concerned as more South County residents are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 than North County residents. According Santa Barbara Public Health s Community Data Dashboard, 21.2% of South County residents are fully vaccinated. Only 13.6% North County residents are fully vaccinated. Many of our South County educators and various sectors got vaccinated in another southern location in other counties. Whether that s in LA or Ventura County, when we list that number, it does take that into account, Santa Barbara County Public Health Director Van Do-Reynoso said.
COVID-19 vaccine rollout “not as fast” as people would like
Santa Barbara County is gearing up for Super Bowl Sunday with a message of caution for those planning big gatherings. (SBC Health graphic)
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The conversation on COVID-19 is shifting from analytics on cases to the number of vaccine doses received and administered.
Santa Barbara Public Health Director Van Do-Reynoso updated the Board of Supervisors Tuesday morning.
While the overall numbers from the most recent data is getting better, she said, Isla Vista is still showing an increase.
There were 67 deaths in the last two-week period in the county.
ICU situation linked to extended stay-at-home order
Tracy Lehr / NewsChannel 3
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. It appears Governor Newsom is leaving the extension of the current stay-at-home order up to Dr. Mark Ghaly.
The Health and Human Service Secretary will be looking at the numbers linked to intensive care units before making a decision official this week.
ICU capacity in the Southern California region has hovered around zero during the Christmas holiday, but Santa Barbara Public Health Officer Henning Ansorg said that is not about beds or furniture.
Dr. Ansorg said it is about staffing that can change daily. Medical staff members may be out sick or may be getting vaccinated.
Finding your place in the vaccine line
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. Santa Barbara County is expecting the COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday. The first rounds of doses are slated for hospital frontline workers. After that, the doses will follow the California Department of Public Health tiered allocation for the vaccine.
Santa Barbara Public Health director Van Do-Reynoso has heard concerns about the vaccine. “I understand that some people might be nervous about the COVID vaccine. And that’s totally reasonable. But I know also, that researchers have been working on this vaccine for many many years,” Do-Reynoso said.
Do-Reynoso thinks she would be in the second tier of the distribution. She expects enough doses for the public to be available in the spring.