Starting this week, Marin County residents 65 and older are eligible to register to receive a COVID-19 vaccination through Marin County Public Health and several other health care providers.
Marin County Public Health and health care providers began an immunization program for those 75 and older late last month in a joint strategy designed to save lives. About three-quarters of Marin’s COVID-19 deaths have been in that age group.
Marin County Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis said as a result of the combined effort, enough progress has been made with the older group, which accounts for about 25,000 residents, to warrant the opening of the next age-group tier.
“We’ve vaccinated 60% of our residents age 75 and older,” Willis said. “We’re ready to join other Bay Area counties that have expanded to the next highest-risk group, or residents over age 65.”
Ninety-two percent of deaths from COVID-19 in Marin County are among residents age 65 and older.
To date, approximately 36,000 Marin residents have received at least one dose of vaccine, in addition to thousands more Marin-based health care workers who live in other counties but help care for Marin residents.
Vaccinations will continue for any remaining Phase 1A-eligible health care workers, first responders, residents of long-term care facilities and those 75 and older. Once someone is eligible to be immunized against COVID-19, they remain eligible even as additional groups become qualified to access the vaccine.
Health officials remain challenged by limited supplies of vaccination dosages, and supply determines the pace at which residents can be vaccinated. Some health care providers are continuing their 75 and older focus through February, and it may take a few weeks until individuals in the 65-74 age group can access a vaccine appointment.
“We’re allowing providers to focus on the needs of their patients, and so Kaiser Permanente will continue to prioritize the 75 and older population at this time,” Willis said. “Given the large number of patients they have in this age range, we agree with this approach.”
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