COVID-19 Vaccine Questions Answered

San Rafael, CA – The COVID-19 vaccination process is underway in Marin County. But with so many messages coming from the state and neighboring counties, knowing the status for Marin County may be confusing. Marin County Public Health will try to simplify it here.

Where is the best local information about vaccinations?

Everything a resident needs is on coronavirus.marinhhs.org/vaccine. It features distribution details, info for health care providers, facts vs. myths on vaccines, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Who can be vaccinated now?

Marin is currently only vaccinating health care workers defined in Phase 1A. Those welcome at vaccine clinics include hospital employees, paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs), skilled nursing facility employees, home health care workers, mental health providers, dentists, specialty clinics workers, family care workers, mental health providers, outpatient / private practice workers, etc. Health care workers who are eligible for a vaccine can register for an appointment on the vaccine distribution page.

What are the phases of vaccine distribution?

Phase 1A is happening now and is expected to run into late January, with the timeline subject to change based on supply. Phase 1A is health care workers, which represents roughly 30,000 people in Marin.

Next will be Phase 1B, which is separated into two tiers, but – in sum – covers the older adult community and front-line essential workers. Public Health estimate groups in Phase 1B represent more than 100,000 people in Marin. Depending on vaccine supply allocations from the State of California, Phase 1B could start as early as the end of January and will continue through early spring.

Then will come Phase 1C, which includes people 50-64, people over age 16 with underlying health conditions or disabilities, and the employees who work in more moderate-risk services. That phase is expected to start in early March, depending on vaccine supply. Public Health estimates Phase 1C represents 70,000 Marin residents.

Anyone who would like to better understand how groups will be prioritized under the rollout process should check the distribution webpage.

How are those in Phase 1A being vaccinated?

The staff is working closely with partners at MarinHealth Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, Sutter, Marin County fire agencies, Marin Medical Reserve Corps, CVS Pharmacy and other community partners to provide vaccine in a variety of ways. Hospital staff and skilled nursing facility staff and residents are being vaccinated at their facilities. All other health care workers have two primary options:

• if they are Phase 1A eligible and are covered under a Kaiser health plan, they can contact Kaiser for a vaccination appointment;
• if they are not covered by a Kaiser health plan, they can make an appointment to be vaccinated at a Marin Public Health vaccination site.

See the County’s site in action. 

How will I know when it’s my turn?

Public Health and medical providers will offer regular updates on movement through the phases and tiers of vaccination. Another way to stay updated with vaccine progress in Marin is to subscribe to Marin Public Health’s daily status updates. They contain information on vaccine progress, announcements of when new vaccination phases open, and other relevant COVID-19 information.

Where are more answers about vaccinations?

Start with Public Health’s frequently asked questions (FAQs) and then move to facts & myths. If your question is not answered there, email us and the Public Health staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

• FAQs
• Facts vs. Myths
• Contact the staff

What’s the best way to receive updates?

Public Health emails a COVID-19 update most evenings that includes the latest info on vaccinations. Thousands of people have registered to get it shipped directly to their inbox. Sign up through the Public Health website

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District 4 Office: 

Lorenzo Cordova 

T: (415) 473-3092

E: lcordova@marincounty.org

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Rhonda Kutter 

P: (415) 473-3246

E: rkutter@marincounty.org 

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