All Contra Costa County Residents 16+ Now Eligible for Vaccines

Contra Costa County health officials announced Tuesday that COVID-19 vaccines are now available to everyone who lives or works in the county, age 16 and older.

On Monday, county COVID-19 operations chief Dr. Ori Tzvieli said the county would open vaccine eligibility to all adults before the state's target date of April 15 due in part to an increased vaccine supply from both state and federal sources.

In a press release Tuesday, the county health department encouraged everyone who lives or works in Contra Costa County to request an appointment, while noting that appointments can only be made through the county's system, and not the state's My Turn portal.

County health officials said thousands of vaccination appointments are available at community clinics this week. Increased vaccine supplies from the state and federal government are in the tens of thousands of doses. Last week, the county received 84,500 doses – 30,000 more doses than just the week before, officials said.

The county is also working to eliminate equity barriers, including axing a complicated registration form and beginning to accept walk-ins at its Richmond Auditorium and Bay Point Health Center vaccination locations, as well as adding more walk-in locations soon, according to health officials.

"Since we gave the first dose in our county on Dec. 15, getting vaccine to everyone and anyone has been our top priority," county Health Director Anna Roth said in a media release. "Removing barriers of all kinds, including confusing eligibility criteria is an important step in furthering our equity goals. This is an important day."

Roughly 630,000 total vaccine doses have now been administered countywide. The county has set a goal to administer 1 million doses by May 31.

- KQED's David Marks and Bay City News