Public Health Details COVID-19 Vaccine Scarcity and Healthcare Workers Refusing Immunization
By edhat staff
Santa Barbara County Public Health Department (PHD) officials discussed the state's COVID-19 vaccine scarcity and the percentage of healthcare workers refusing immunization during Friday's press conference.
PHD Director Dr. Van Do-Reynoso stated the county's vaccine allocation is approximately 1.22% of its population, although Santa Barbara County is receiving more vaccine per capita than Ventura and Los Angeles counties. She stated there is a "vaccine scarcity" statewide and no county is receiving enough of the vaccine.
Phase one of the vaccine distribution prioritizes healthcare workers, approximately 26,000 in the county, and people over the age of 75, approximately 36,000. PHD estimates the county receives about 6,000 vaccine doses each week for both first and second doses, making it approximately 12 weeks or longer to complete the first phase.
PHD Officer Dr. Henning Ansorg stated the good news is they have noticed supply to the county is slowly increasing while Marian Regional Medical has been also been receiving additional vaccines as they're under a direct federal contract.
"Please bear with us," Dr. Ansorg said, urging the community to be patient as they wait for more vaccine supply so they can offer more appointments and open up to the next phase which includes people over 65 years of age and education/food industry workers. Approximately 100,000 doses will be needed if only 60% of people in the next phase accept the vaccine.
On top of the limited supply of vaccine, Dr. Ansorg stated only 50% of healthcare workers have accepted the COVID-19 vaccine, the majority of those declining work in skilled nursing facilities. Only 30% of nursing home staff within the county have accepted the vaccine while 80% of Cottage Health staff have been vaccinated, he said.
The majority of COVID-19-related deaths within the county are people aged 70 and older and living in congregate care settings.
Dr. Ansorg cited misinformation and hoaxes being spread on social media as one of the main reasons for vaccine refusal. Specifically, the false statement that the COVID-19 vaccine will cause sterility making it impossible for people to conceive children. "This is a complete hoax," said Dr. Ansorg.
He also said there appears to be a high percentage of vaccine hesitancy in the Latinx population and described it as a cultural phenomenon where minority groups have a history of mistrust in the government.
Dr. Do-Reynoso stated PHD is working with community partners on education campaigns to address these concerns and they will be hosting a town hall next week for community members to directly ask the experts.
Additional Sheriff Staff and Inmates Test COVID-19 Positive
The Sheriff’s Office is reporting five additional staff and nine additional inmates as being COVID-19 positive. One member of our professional staff, three Deputies and one Custody Deputy have been found to be COVID-19 positive. This brings the total number of Sheriff’s employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 to 111, with 101 having recovered and returned to work.
The Main Jail is reporting nine additional inmates towards the total number of inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19. Due to recoveries and releases, the total number of active cases today is 35, a difference of three since our last press release.
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Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Main Jail COVID-19 Related Cases |
|||
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Positive Upon Intake |
Contracted Within Facility |
Total Cases |
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Active Cases Medically Monitored/Treated |
3 |
32 |
35 |
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Recovered |
13 |
114 |
127 |
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Released from Custody |
17 |
16 |
33 |
|
Deceased |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
TOTAL |
34 |
162 |
196 |
Friday's Numbers
PHD reported 136 new COVID-19 cases and four deaths on Friday
Three individuals were over 70 years of age and one was between the ages of 50-69 years old. Two had underlying medical conditions. Two deaths were associated with an outbreak at a congregate facility. Two resided in Santa Barbara, one in Santa Maria and one in the Goleta Valley/Gaviota area.
There have now been 334 deaths and PHD stated the county has lost more community members so far in 2021 than in all of 2020.
There are currently 1,067 active cases including 161 hospitalizations with 44 in the ICU. The county's ICU availability is 18.4%.
Dr. Do-Reynoso confirmed there is a notable decrease with a 60.5 reduction in case rates and a 38% decrease in testing positivity. However, more work needs to be done to reopen schools and also reach the red tier.
In order to reach the less restrictive red tier, the county's case rate would need to decrease by an additional 80% and testing positivity by 20%.
More info: https://publichealthsbc.org/status-reports/
Comments Penalty Box
10 Comments deleted due to down vote
6 Comments deleted by Administrator
53 Comments
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Feb 06, 2021 07:07 PM*Snoop Dogg
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Feb 06, 2021 07:41 PMYup, my spellchecker still works.
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Feb 06, 2021 03:00 PMI still want my vax regardless of the politics expressed herein.
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Feb 06, 2021 04:07 PMBlame whoever you want for anti vaccine attitudes, in my opinion there's a host of reasons, and NONE are credible whatsoever. It's a shame that so many healthcare workers are refusing vaccination. Hard to believe really. Any healthcare worker whose been educated in science to even a basic degree knows better. I think the long term care facilities have many workers who have a very limited science background, unfortunately.
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Feb 06, 2021 06:26 PMI have 2 theories regarding healthcare workers. And they're only theories. But the articles have repeatedly stated that healthcare workers were testing positive for Covid so we had limited ICU beds. So them thinking "I've already had the virus so I don't need the vaccine" is 1.
Second, if they're young and healthy. They could be taking a moral stance that a 65 year old should be getting the vaccine prior to them because they're 30 and healthy.
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Feb 06, 2021 10:16 PMConservativesb another reason I’ve heard from several Hispanic workers. Getting the vaccine and having to carry a card is the equivalent to having the mark of the beast. Their deep religious upbringing is hard to overcome.
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Feb 06, 2021 10:24 PMBasicinfo I don’t think the healthcare workers have a much higher percentage of participation with the flu shot. Maybe they know a little something? I have had both so don’t think I’m a anti vaccer.
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Feb 07, 2021 09:13 AMMany of the Healthcare workers are in fact employed at the retirement homes, not at the hospital, clinics or medical offices. I'm sure between religion and being told that having had covid makes them immune that they feel its not needed...
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Feb 07, 2021 09:40 AMAs far as “health care workers” being educated in science, I suspect that title covers aides and other retirement home workers with little to no science education. Good people doing essential work, but not always highly educated.
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Feb 07, 2021 07:22 PMI've read in the NYT that some healthcare workers fear that the vaccine was rushed and therefore not ready for safety reasons. Others say that the push for profits from the drug companies makes for a bad product. Looks like we will need a third "jab".
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Feb 06, 2021 04:16 PMPer the article “ The majority of COVID-19-related deaths within the county are people aged 70 and older and living in congregate care settings.”
Why are public schools closed?
Why are people wearing masks while driving alone or on a sidewalk ?
Why are restaurants closed?
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Feb 06, 2021 04:56 PMSo a lot of people don't get sick and/or die.
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Feb 06, 2021 11:06 PMGETALONG - You put on your mask inside your house. You leave, drive around doing your errands and you come home and take off your mask. YOU DON’T TOUCH it when you are out of your house.
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Feb 07, 2021 09:37 AMI do not understand why SBGetsalong or anyone else is concerned about other people wearing masks when he doesn’t think they need to. Are you also disturbed when you see someone with a jacket on a day you wouldn’t wear one? Commenter at 11:06 has a clear explanation, and there are other reasons as well. Sometimes it’s just easier to leave the mask on. Some of us don’t find them all that bothersome.
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Feb 08, 2021 11:40 AMYou have/ wear a mask if you can't distance from others...like on a sidewalk. And if you wear glasses that tend to steam up, you learn pretty early that it's just easier to put it on and leave it on, rather than try to put in on/ take it off.
Same with the car if you have multiple stops. Put it on. Leave it on. Make your stops. Get home. Take it off, toss it in the laundry basket, wash your hands.
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Feb 08, 2021 11:47 AMSBLETSGETALONG - because "the majority" doesn't mean ONLY. English.
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Feb 06, 2021 06:45 PMAll the comments here seem to want to put this in a national two=party political context. Let's talk about our own county. I am particularly concerned that the CHD is not doing a good job getting this vaccine out. I personally know that many people who are "not eligible" have received the vaccine while people who are "eligible" are desperately seeking an injection. In particular, the Marian Hospital roll out has been a tragedy it seems. Many open spots, people showing up too young to qualify but getting the shot anyway, people being told they could get the shot by showing up and doing so. While it is good that the vaccines are not being wasted, it would be hugely better if some discipline were evident. Why is there no site allowing people in Santa Barbara County to input personal data and get a date and place for their vaccine appointment? Why do we have Cottage, Marian, CHD and perhaps several other local operations quietly doing the work but only for those in the know? I think the Board of Supervisors needs to take a hard and critical look at the mess CHD had created. In LA and SD and other places people over 65 can at least drive up to a place and get a shot. In our county no one over 65 can even schedule an "authorized" injection. It is a scandal.
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Feb 06, 2021 06:57 PMThis is a perfect example of why our government shall never run healthcare. Also why our government really shouldn't run anything. It is an utter disaster at everything it touches.
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Feb 06, 2021 07:10 PMIn reality, it's a graphic example of the failings of our for-profit healthcare system.
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Feb 06, 2021 06:57 PMWow - the most startling number they seem to have omitted from this update is that we went from 1.067 'active' cases yesterday (the number has steadily gone down over the last few weeks) to 303 'active' cases today. That's with adding the 193 new cases added today. Not sure how this can be possible. There have been 1,203 new cases reported since Monday.... I'm thoroughly confused - is there a definition of an 'active' case compared to 'recovered'? I thought there was some sort of time frame, among other things, that was used....
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Feb 06, 2021 07:02 PMThere is a time frame for going from active to recovered ( 10 or 14 days). The issue in this record keeping is the delay in getting results posted and/or test results back. So the person may be counted as an active case on their 9th day after testing positive and then go into the recovered column the next day.
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Feb 06, 2021 07:12 PMWe agree. You're thoroughly confused.
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Feb 07, 2021 05:03 PMAh, I see they corrected yesterday's 'active' case numbers to 1.065 from 303.
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Feb 07, 2021 07:43 PMMountainMan, YOU WERE CORRECT!!! The 303 'active' cases was an error, as usual, on the PHD website. The current number of 'active' cases is back up and now stands at 1083. Critics with their snide comments, such as 7:12 PM, should just stay out these discussions because they clearly do not possess the ability to analyze the data. Well done in pointing out that discrepancy.
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Feb 07, 2021 09:42 PMCongratulations! Using data from SBPHD, you've managed to replicate...the SBPHD data!
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Feb 07, 2021 09:36 AMOne reason people may not want the COVID-19 vaccine is it's exempt from the Vaccine Injury compensation fund. There is another fund but it is unfunded and you cant use a lawyer or appeal the board's decision on your claim. Most people don't actually understand this ...
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Feb 07, 2021 10:10 AMSea dog the number of people who have any idea about the funds you are describing is near nil. It is pretty far out to speculate that 30% or more of the people in this country are vaccine "hesitant" because they would not have a government fund to compensate them if something goes sideways.
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Feb 07, 2021 10:46 AMI was just talking about medical people refusing the vaccine - They are more educated on the subject. Why MSM they only talk about co morbidities when talking about someone dying after the vaccine and not before ?
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Feb 07, 2021 10:16 AM“Vaccine refusal” for any non medical reason = idiocy. “Health care workers” includes a broad swath of folks from admin, medical assistants, nursing assistants, RNs on up to MDs. The less educated one is the more susceptible they are to misinformation etc. Also, the more right wing media one consumes the more misinformation you are fed. FOX, Newsmax, OAN all float conspiracy theories and anyone who denies this is clearly part of the cuckoo cult. I know that comment won’t be popular with some but it’s true...
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Feb 07, 2021 01:26 PMSBGAL, by only putting those three news sources on there and not the rest of the MSM you’re clearly susceptible to misinformation as well.
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Feb 07, 2021 05:31 PMIf right wingers were the main reason for anti vax and anti mask idiocy we surely wouldn't be having such a problem in California--especially in Santa Barbara where most of us are progressive. Most of the anti vax and maskers I see are students--very anti-Fox news and progressive students.
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Feb 07, 2021 05:38 PMThere's young and stupid, which for some who don't learn becomes older and right wing.
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Feb 07, 2021 11:01 AMJust like in prisons, Covid does not originate in nursing homes. Staff and visitors are bring it in and killing those people. Covid 19 vaccination should be a requirement for continued employment in those congregate living spaces. Don’t want a safe working environment? There is an army of unemployed people who would consider working at your job.
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Feb 07, 2021 11:27 AMApparently no employer can make the vaccines mandatory because they were approved under Emergency Use Authorizations. Or that’s what I’ve heard.
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Feb 08, 2021 11:37 AMI'm fairly confident that there aren't armies of people wanting to work as caregivers at nursing homes. In general, they don't make that much money. Also: yes, staff and families bring it in. HOWEVER, the COVID vaccines have not been proven (yet) to prevent COVID transmission - they reduce the severity of the disease and reduce the risk of death. Meaning, they are advantageous to the person who gets the vaccine, not necessarily everyone else.
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Feb 07, 2021 12:59 PMWhy are people wearing masks when walking on the sidewalk???
Because they want to.
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Feb 07, 2021 01:59 PM"Overall, we rate Mercola.com a Quackery level pseudoscience website that advocates for sometimes dangerous, inaction or action, to serious health issues."
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/mercola/
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Feb 08, 2021 07:22 AMI wouldn't visit any sites that Shame recommends. They seem scammy.
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Feb 08, 2021 11:26 AM7:22 AM -
His sites are scammy and pandering to ignorance. Be sure to vaccinate before you dare click.
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Feb 07, 2021 03:12 PMShovel that FUD.
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Feb 07, 2021 01:20 PMFirst off, I think including minimum wage nursing home workers, who clean floors, make beds, and empty bedpans, kind of confuses the category of healthcare workers, which are typically thought of as doctors, nurses, and other specialists. Secondly, I do not have much blind confidence in these numbers, or public health's ability to derive them on the fly like this, without also publishing any supporting data. Last, I hope all who want the vaccine can get it at the earliest time possible. I'll be getting dose #2 this Tuesday, God willing. This long nightmare just may be coming to an end soon. Getting over this dreary mess as soon as can be, is really about all that matters.
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Feb 07, 2021 01:56 PMWatcher237 Healthcare workers include the people who clean, cook and feed, do maintenance and repairs. They are bedside right there with nurses and doctors. Often doing the work that has the highest chance of causing damage to their PPE allowing infection.
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Feb 07, 2021 03:01 PMHealthcare workers include all the support staff well beyond the *medical* staff.
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Feb 08, 2021 07:21 AMI know a cook at a hospital in LA that got his vaccine pretty early. You go to work at a hospital every day and then tell me you don't think you should get it.
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Feb 08, 2021 07:20 AMYes please visit a webpage that is unknown to you and click on as many links as you can. Then you will need a vaccine for your computer.
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Feb 07, 2021 09:29 PMPretty weird that so many are declining the vaccine, while many others who want it can't get it. I'm just sitting on the sidelines till it all sorts out.
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Feb 07, 2021 09:43 PMMany people are not very bright.
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Feb 08, 2021 12:42 PMOff topic whataboutism.
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Feb 08, 2021 01:07 PMTypical ignorant comment.
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Feb 08, 2021 01:09 PM1:07 - Yes, you're right. Why did you post it?
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