“I do believe that if we are working more closely with healthcare partners, they should actually be treated as partners and involved in the conversation,” Coursey said.
Supervisor Susan Gorin argued that no change in planning or coordination would be successful if it was not accompanied by better communication of the country, noting the anxiety that still prevails among many local elderly people.
“I’m all for the province taking the lead and asking for a plan,” Gorin said. “But I want to look at the outcomes. What will it achieve? ”
Hopkins did not give details on what her proposal would look like in action. Much of what she describes comes back to the creation of a central hub for enrollment for vaccination in the country, a process that, according to her, debacles such as the OptumServe experience would be avoided. This would mean that the big hospitals would have to be subject to the land.
Under the current configuration, healthcare providers receive independent doses of vaccine and handle their own appointments. Hopkins’ plan, if implemented, will enable the country to guide who receives the appointments.
For Hopkins, it’s a matter of equity. Many of the people who crashed the OptumServe system by flooding it with appointments are connected to one of the major health providers, she said. If the province vaccinates their members, she wonders, why should the providers not offer doses to residents of the country outside their systems.
“It’s crazy to see the $ 8 million price tag on the agenda today, and think about how much private enterprise is investing in it,” she said. ‘And we give them the facilities for free. They can come occupy the fair or the Sonoma Veterans building. Which they absolutely have to do. But where is our end of the bargain? They make a lot of money. ”
Without a written plan to respond, the hospital groups were keen on detailed assessments.
A representative of Kaiser Permanente said the company already offers vaccinations to non-members. He said they can get an appointment, if available, and a medical record number by calling 866-454-8855.
A spokesman for St. Joseph Health provided a link explaining that her company is making contact with recipients regarding appointments.
“If the idea expressed by Supervisor Hopkins takes a specific form, we will evaluate it at that time,” the company said in release. “Regardless, our focus will continue to be to do what we can to vaccinate our caregivers and community members as effectively as possible, and to do so in partnership with the province and in accordance with the guidelines provided by public health. . “
Sutter Health did not comment.
The vaccination plan released on Tuesday offers money to the country to expand the number of local vaccinations, issue stakeholders, address information to the public and provide other services until June 30. The current FEMA funding will cover 75% of the $ 8.1 million. The sources of the other 25% are indefinite.
Since the program began Dec. 15, more than 38,000 people have received vaccinations in Sonoma County, including more than 9,000 who have both received the two required doses. This does not include residents and staff of long-term parental care facilities served by CVS and Walgreens.
The province’s vaccination effort, which received about 1,785 doses in the arms every day over the past week, received a boost on Tuesday when it was announced that the CVS pharmacy in Sonoma is one of 100 selected from February 11. to give suitable recipients. These doses – the number has not been disclosed – come directly from a federal partnership and will not be deducted from the Sonoma County grant.
But even as the vaccination campaign expands, there is still great confusion about who can get a chance.
The message spread Tuesday that people under 75 could book appointments at a driveway at Sonoma Valley High School run by Sonoma Valley Hospital over the weekend, though the instructions stated otherwise. And some Oakmont Village residents have taken note that they have to cancel their appointments for Thursday, Friday and Monday if they are under 75. At least 520 of the 800 slots filled for a clinic run by Safeway there are by people in the 65-74 range.
“By canceling people under the age of 75, we can avoid the possibility of canceling all appointments, and require people over 75 to reschedule,” retirement community executives wrote in an email to residents .
You can reach Phil Barber at 707-521-5263 or [email protected]. On Twitter @Skinny_Post.