Samuel Leach addresses Calaveras supervisors
San Andreas, CA – Starting this Monday, Calaveras County plans to offer the COVID-19 vaccine to residents 75 years or older.
The announcement was made this morning to the Board of Supervisors during a presentation by Samuel Teach, Director of Interim Health and Human Services, and Doug Archer, President and CEO of Mark Twain.
Leach has so far noted that 580 vaccines have been distributed in the country. The initial groups included health workers on the front lines, firefighters, EMTs and assistance centers.
As of Monday, CEO Archer noted that vaccine clinics will be set up at Mark Twain Medical Center in San Andreas for those in Tier 1B, including everyone who is 75 years or older. More specific details will be announced later this week on how to schedule an appointment and where to go. The plan is to administer 100 vaccines on day one, and then rise daily to about 200-250. They will be free. The clinics will run four days a week, depending on the availability of vaccine. It will be investigated to ensure that those receiving the vaccine are residents of Calaveras. Those who receive it have a follow-up appointment for the second dose within about four weeks.
Leach said the upcoming phase is a ‘heavy lift’, and praised the role of Mark Twain Medical Center in being a social health partner. He also added that he is in talks with Calaveras Superintendent of Schools Scott Nanik to offer the vaccine to teachers and staff working at the various school districts next week.
While the news about vaccine distribution was positive, Leach acknowledged that emergencies have been stressed in recent weeks due to an increase in local cases.
Asked about the increase and the related challenges of contact tracing, Leach replied: ‘This is a real thing and a real boom. I need people to take it seriously. ”
He added: ‘You really have to continue now during the depths of the boom as if everyone you’ve been in contact with has Covid. It’s not March or April when our people still asked if you know anyone who had it. Just about everyone who listens to this knows someone who has had it or has now. And if you’re in my position, you know a lot of people that Covid currently has active. ”
He stressed the importance of wearing a mask, avoiding gatherings and hand washing. He hopes the community will be better in the spring.
In other matters today, supervisors Ben Stopper unanimously elected to serve as chair for 2021, and new supervisor Amanda Folendorf will be the vice chair. Stopper served as vice chairman last year.