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To schedule an appointment, please visit the County vaccination page or call the COVID-19 helpline at (909) 387-3911, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
COVID is Still Spreading, But Now Cases are Mostly Younger Adults
County health authorities urge people to schedule vaccinations
Despite the rapid progress of vaccinations, a months-long decline in new infections and the gradual reopening of much of our economy, COVID-19 — and its variants — remain a threat.
While we’ve made great progress since December and January, San Bernardino County is still seeing more than 500 new cases every week. But unlike last year, the demographics of those infected are shifting and the greatest numbers of new cases involve adults aged 18-34, followed by those between the ages of 35 and 49.
“A considerable number of these individuals, including many who are young and otherwise healthy, will suffer from the coronavirus, and some will require hospitalization,” said Interim Public Health Director Andrew Goldfrach. “Some will even die — which is heartbreaking when one considers how easy it is to schedule a free vaccination appointment.”
Goldfrach added, “Young adults tend to be active and mobile, so they are likely to come in contact with many people of all ages. As a result, we could see hospitals admit younger patients who have not yet been vaccinated.”
We have now reached a point where appointments can be easily made at County-run sites or local pharmacies by visiting SBCovid19.com/vaccine, or calling the COVID-19 helpline at (909) 387-3911, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The challenge is not limited to San Bernardino County. The 7-day average number of new COVID-19 infections eclipses the 14-day average in about half the country, with 40 states hitting that benchmark last Wednesday. The CDC reported Monday that the 7-day average of new COVID-19 cases is at more than 67,000 cases a day; four weeks ago, the 7-day average was 53,000 cases a day.
Across the U.S., more than half of the new cases are among people aged 18 to 54, CDC data shows.
“A big part of our effort now is to convince younger adults to take a few minutes to schedule a vaccination appointment,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “The more people who get vaccinated, the fewer infections we will see.”
The Truth about Vaccine Side Effects
Dr. Michael Sequeira answers questions about J&J and more
San Bernardino County residents should be proud that more than 40% of our residents have had at least one vaccine dose, and that number rises every day. On the other hand, however, this number is still far too short to reach an acceptable level of protection (at least 70%) that would bring us back to a “normalcy” that puts COVID-19 on par with the flu.
All of which means, according to San Bernardino County Public Health Officer Dr. Michael Sequeira, we have to do all we can to encourage our family, friends and co-workers to get vaccinated. Over 212 million people in the U.S. have received a vaccine dose, and the evidence is clear vaccines are safe and they work.
For most of us, this means taking the time to jump online at SBCovid19.com/vaccine to make a convenient appointment. We have reached the point where there are enough doses and locations available for even same-day appointments.
But for others, there are still some fears and hesitations – and with the news of a temporary hold on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, people have questions about whether the side effects of a vaccine are worse than the chances of contracting COVID-19.
We took time with Dr. Sequeira to get some straight answers about not only the J&J concerns, but the vaccine side effects in general.
Q: Doesn’t the fact that the J&J vaccine was paused after a small number of people had serious blood clot issues a reason to be concerned about possible fatal vaccine side effects?
A: What the pause shows us is how meticulous we are being when it comes to the safety of our vaccines. This was a small number of cases out of nearly 7 million doses administered, and the truth is that this is a lower incident rate of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis than the general incidence of the same condition. In other words, the general population has a better chance of getting this blood clot condition for other reasons than from the vaccine.
We’ve now identified how it can be identified and treated. When the vaccine is approved for distribution again – and it likely will be – it will still be much safer than almost any other drug interaction for literally hundreds of current medical treatments in other (non-COVID-19) situations.
Q: We know the experts have said it is normal to feel some mild discomfort after receiving a shot, but we all know someone who said they felt just awful. What should people really expect?
A: Everyone will have their own individual reaction; some individuals will have no issues at all, while others will feel pretty lousy. This is pretty much like any vaccine and are normal signs that your body is building protection.
The arm where you got the shot may have some pain, swelling or redness. Overall, you may feel tired, nauseous, have overall muscle pain, chills or a headache, and for some, a combination of some or all of these. So, in short, some of us might not feel well for a few days.
What this means is you should go in knowing that the side effects may affect your ability to do some daily activities, so plan your schedule accordingly.
Q: What about the second shot (for Pfizer and Moderna)? Isn’t it worse?
A: Again, this is on an individual basis. For many, the side effects after your second shot may be more intense than the ones you experienced after your first shot. For others, there have been no side effects at all. Regardless, the side effects are normal signs that your body is building protection and should go away within a few days.
Q: So, what can we do about these side effects?
A: There are a few things you can do. For the arm soreness, a cold compress could help. For the aches and pains or fever, you can take aspirin, Tylenol or ibuprofen, as long as you don’t have any medical reasons that keep you from taking these medications.
A topical or oral antihistamine could help if your arm is itching. Any medication that helps with cold and flu symptoms might help with coronavirus vaccine side effects. One thing, though, is do not take anything beforehand to try and prevent side effects – you don’t want to do anything that might blunt the immune response from the vaccine.
Q: Is there ever a reason to call a doctor or go into ER or urgent care?
A: In some rare cases there might be an allergic reaction to the vaccine, but these usually happen fairly quickly after getting a dose. This is why we ask if you are subject to allergic reactions before giving you the shot, and why you will be asked to wait 15 or 30 minutes after receiving a dose. If you have a non-severe allergic reaction with hives, swelling or trouble breathing, it will happen within hours. In either case, the CDC recommends that you not get a second shot of that vaccine if you have a reaction.
Other than an allergic reaction, if other symptoms don’t go away or get worse after a few days – or if you’re simply worried about something – don’t hesitate to see your doctor or visit urgent care.
Q: I hear the Pfizer vaccine has worse side effects than the Moderna, but my friend says Moderna is worse. What’s the reality?
A: We have the benefit of now studying the response from millions and millions of people who have received vaccinations and the truth is there is no statistical difference in the reactions to any of the vaccines.
Vaccination Sites Bring Smiles and Hope
As vaccination efforts continue full steam ahead across every corner of our county, Andrew Goldfrach, Interim Director, San Bernardino County Public Health Department, takes a moment to share why it’s important for everyone to do their part to get vaccinated and for everyone to keep up on COVID-19 basics.
Check out this brief video. Together, San Bernardino County is making a difference and seizing its Shot for Hope!
County Providing Rental Assistance to Renters, Landlords
San Bernardino County has established an emergency rental assistance program that will disperse more than $46.8 million in rental assistance to residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic shutdown. The funds were provided through the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.
The San Bernardino County Rent Relief Partnership, established in collaboration with Inland SoCal 211+, will contribute up to 12 months of overdue rent and/or potential rent payments to residents who have struggled to make payments. Applicants can apply for arrears accrued from March 13, 2020 to present and the program will be available through Dec. 31, 2021 or until all funds are exhausted.
“This program will bring much-needed relief to tenants trying desperately to stay in their homes and, in turn, landlords who have been hard-hit by the economic effects of the pandemic,” said County Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “The County’s partnership with Inland SoCal 211+ is a key step toward economic recovery for our region.”
Landlords who have tenants that are behind on rent can initiate the application process on behalf of their tenants, as long as the tenant provides consent and completes the tenant portion of the application process. Landlords for more than one rental household will need to submit a form for each rental household.
To receive assistance, renters must meet the following criteria:
- Household members must reside within San Bernardino County (see exceptions below for cities of San Bernardino and Fontana).
- The household must have a family income equal to or less than 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI), as outlined in the application.
- One or more individuals within the household qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 outbreak.
- One or more persons within the household may demonstrate the risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
- One or more persons within 50% of the AMI household are unemployed on the date of the assistance application and have not been employed during the 90-day period prior to that date.
Residents of the cities of Fontana and San Bernardino should apply directly to their respective cities for assistance. Applicants from these cities applying for the County program will be redirected to their corresponding programs.
For more information and to submit an application to receive assistance, please visit the County’s Rent Relief website or the ISC211 website.
Sheriff Update on Inmates and Employees Testing Positive for COVID
A total of 994 County jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19. Many of the inmates are only experiencing minor symptoms of the virus. The infected inmates are in isolation, being monitored around the clock, and are being provided with medical treatment. A total of 981 inmates have recovered from the illness.
A total of 1,026 department employees have tested positive for COVID-19 and are self-isolating at home; 1,015 employees have recovered from the virus. Other employees are expected to return to work in the next few weeks. It is unknown when or where the employees were infected with the virus. The department continues to encourage all department members to heed the warnings of health officials.
Latest Stats
295,131 Confirmed Cases (up 0.1% from the previous day)
4,321 Deaths (up 0% from the previous day)
2,861,679 Tests (up 0.1% from the previous day)
For more statistics from the COVID-19 Surveillance Dashboard, click the desktop or mobile tab on the County’s sbcovid19.com website.
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