Marin officials troubled by uneven COVID booster rollout
While new COVID-19 vaccine boosters have been approved for distribution, Marin health officials fear they are not reaching the people who need it.
“The commercialization of COVID vaccines basically means it’s not government-run anymore,” Dr. Matt Willis, the county’s public health officer, said Thursday. “The first couple weeks of this rollout have been concerning.”
The vaccine became available about two weeks ago, but Willis said some of the county’s most important providers, such as Marin Community Clinics and Kaiser Permanente, either have been unable to obtain adult vaccine or were late in getting it.
Kaiser said this week that some supplies have arrived in recent days, but the company did not have information yet on a distribution schedule for the general community. A Marin Community Clinics spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
“None of our skilled nursing facilities have supplies yet,” Willis said. “Pharmacies are supposed to provide vaccines, but it’s hit or miss for where and when you can find an appointment.”
Meanwhile, Marin and other Bay Area counties have announced new mask requirements at hospitals and skilled nursing center to address the spread of three viruses: influenza, COVID-19 and RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus.
The mask requirement is set for Nov. 1 through March 31, Willis said. He said the mandate is intended to protect patients, staff and visitors when they are in higher-risk health care settings. It will apply to people in patient care areas. Children under age 6 and those with a valid medical reason are exempt.
“This is not a mask mandate for the general public,” said Dr. Lisa Santora, deputy public health officer. “If you don’t set foot in a hospital or skilled nursing facility, it won’t apply to you.”
“Hospitals are uniquely vulnerable settings for infection,” Santora said. “People go there when they’re sick, so you have more likelihood of exposure, the patients are often older and medically fragile and more likely to have severe illness if infected, and there’s a lot of coming and going and close interactions indoors.”
Historically, case rates and virus levels in Marin wastewater show a clear seasonal spike in RSV and influenza, Willis said. The rates rise in November or December, and are followed by a decline into spring. In addition, cases of COVID-19 tend to increase at the same time.
“Until recently, we’ve relied on cases counts and lab tests to see the when these viruses start to flow in our community each fall,” Willis said. “Last year, we had a new tool—measuring the virus itself in our wastewater. This showed a remarkably clear rise and fall, November through March in both flu and RSV.”
The new mask order follows that timing. Information on the mask requirement is online at coronavirus.marinhhs.org/masks.
“We’ve also seen a COVID-19 surge every fall — though it stays around all year and we see spikes in other seasons too,” Willis said.
As to the issue of COVID-19 vaccines in Marin, Willis said public health officials are troubled that they haven’t seen any data on how many people have been able to get vaccinated. That’s unlike in the past, when the county kept close tabs on all the immunizations.
“We in public health have limited visibility on the commercial market, and no influence,” he said. “We don’t want to see delayed vaccine access for people who need it most, or lower overall vaccination rates.”
County officials were told that barriers to access are being addressed, he said.
“I don’t know how many Marin residents have found their way to the new vaccine, because the database that tracks vaccinations hasn’t been updated to include the new vaccines yet,” Willis said.
The federal government is offering another round of free at-home COVID-19 test kits. The website to order four kits is covid.gov/tests.
Santora said the protocol is for people to test if they are symptomatic, and then retest in two days if symptoms continue.
“Test three to five days after exposure, and wear a mask,” Santora said.