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Feb. 12 appointments focused on Berkeley residents
Residents of Berkeley who are at least 65 years old can sign up for one of 1,500 drive-through COVID-19 vaccination appointments on Friday, Feb. 12.
This limited set of first-dose vaccinations, coordinated by the City of Berkeley at a site at the foot of Buchanan Street in Albany, targets an age group significantly more vulnerable to hospitalization and death as a result of COVID-19 disease.
These City-coordinated vaccinations are just one of several paths to vaccination -- though national supply remains severely constrained. Everyone should sign up wherever they can: start with your health care provider and then register on City, County and state notification lists.
Make your appointment online for Friday Feb. 12:
This form will ask you for basic demographic information to confirm your eligibility for an appointment. While vaccines are free to all, those with insurance will need to upload photos of the front and back of their insurance cards. You will receive a confirmation email with the date and time of your appointment. You will not be asked about immigration status. We will verify appointments with identification at the site.
Questions? Call Curative Inc. at 888-702-9042.
Depending on vaccine availability, more time slots may be added in the evenings. Check back periodically.
Transport option for Berkeley seniors, disabled
For Berkeley residents who need physical assistance with mobility to get to the site, a ride service supported by the City can help some people get to their appointments for a $15 fee.
After you’ve scheduled your vaccination appointment, call Easy Does It at 510-704-2111 to check your eligibility, register for services, and schedule a ride.
Easy Does It will ask health screening questions to ensure the rider safety and the safety of the driver. Personal protective equipment is worn by drivers, and face coverings are required of riders.
Second doses scheduled at site
People waiting in the post-vaccination holding area will be able to sign up for their second dose using the unique appointment number for their first dose. Depending on the vaccine, the appointment will be scheduled 21 to 28 days in advance.
Those vaccinated at the Buchanan Street site on Feb. 4-8 should expect to receive an email from Curative starting two weeks after they received their first dose.
With vaccine supply limited, sign up for notification lists
The very limited national supply means that it will take many months for vaccines to reach the general population.
No matter what your age, you can prepare by understanding what your health care provider's process is and signing up for general notification lists.
The City of Berkeley's list will be used to notify people when new vaccination opportunities are made available by Berkeley Public Health.
Large health care providers, such as Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health, receive their own limited supply of vaccine through the state and are beginning to schedule appointments for members 65 or older:
- Sutter Health patients who are healthcare workers or age 65 and older can schedule appointments through their website or by calling (844) 987-6115.
- Kaiser Permanente has stated they will contact members who are 75 or older directly when appointments are available. Kaiser Permanente members who are health care workers, emergency medical service providers, or long term care patients can schedule an e-visit to request a vaccine appointment.
The limited supply of vaccines is also being distributed through other channels, such as a federal program for long-term care facilities and the health service for UC Berkeley.
No matter what list you are on, keep tabs on your email and take immediate action when you receive a notification that you are eligible to make an appointment.
Everyone will get the vaccine eventually, but it will take time.
These safe, highly effective vaccines are free to the public. As federal supplies eventually increase, COVID-19 vaccines will also be available to all.
The two currently approved vaccines -- Moderna and Pfizer - are for adults and each require two doses to have roughly 95 percent efficacy.
All tools needed to end the pandemic
Each vaccination helps build up our resilience to the virus, even as it still kills thousands across the nation.
The vaccine is not a panacea. We need to use all the tools the CDC has identified to fight this pandemic. Everyone - even those who are vaccinated - need to wear masks and avoid gatherings. Many people remain vulnerable.
Each time someone wears a mask, avoids a gathering, keeps distance from other households or gets a vaccine, they help protect our community.
We will continue to send City vaccine notifications to this list as appointments become available. We also encourage you to sign up or research the process with your health care provider.
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