03/12/2021 -
Dear School Community,
We are pleased to inform you that, during the past four weeks, more than 8,000 Sonoma County educators have been vaccinated with at least one dose. By Monday, March 15, we estimate that all preschool-grade 6 school staff in Sonoma County will have been offered the chance to be vaccinated, either through SCOE’s clinic at Rancho Cotate High School, another local clinic, or the state’s MyTurn system.
With elementary school staff complete, SCOE is shifting its efforts to educators who serve middle and high school students. First eligible are educators in SCOE’s priority groups C and D (the Petaluma, Cotati-Rohnert Park, Sonoma Valley, and West Sonoma County areas). We are moving in the reverse priority order for middle and high school staff.
Eligible educators include all paid school employees: teachers, office staff, custodial, food service, IT staff, school administration and a limited number of substitutes necessary to open schools.
While vaccine supply for our clinic has lessened in recent weeks due to shifts in how the state allocates vaccines, we have been able to maintain momentum by working with local lawmakers to gain access to additional vaccines for educators through MyTurn. Additionally, local clinics, from Kaiser-Petaluma to Alliance Medical, have stepped up to provide vaccines for local educators .
Moving forward, our intention is to see that all educators have access to a vaccine in the coming weeks. Although vaccine supply remains limited, we are confident that we can meet this goal.
Eligible educators will be given access to a vaccine at our Rohnert Park clinic or at Kaiser's clinic, or they will be given an vaccine access code to make an appointment through the Blue Shield program, as the supply of vaccine becomes increasingly available.
Educators are now eligible to receive vaccines through their healthcare providers or other local clinics. They are encouraged to choose the route to vaccination that is easiest and fastest for them.
We are grateful to the county health department, local lawmakers, and local healthcare providers for their partnership. Our progress would not be possible without them.
Sincerely,
Steven D. Herrington, Ph.D.
Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools
Jeff Harding, Ed.D.
SCOE Vaccine Coordinator
