(UPDATE 10:19 p.m.): San Luis Obispo County opens the requirements for the COVID-19 vaccine to all residents over the age of 50.
Public health officials say the increase in vaccine supply allows them to expand eligibility to more than 50,000 community members.
On Monday, some residents of San Luis Obispo County shared the degree of ecstasy they have for being vacant.
“When I saw this, I felt like I was out in the lottery,” said community member Melinda Luce.
“[Seeing the announcement] I felt really good. I’m 54, so I’ve been looking closely at the brackets and I think there were rightly others in line in front of me, and so it should have been, ”said resident Jason Wells.
For Wells, getting vaccinated means seeing his 85-year-old father in person again.
The two could only be seen on FaceTime for almost a year.
“Wow, that makes me chill to think. I think being apart helps you appreciate when you don’t have that much,” Wells said.
SLO County resident Traci Bradbury says she hopes to return to some of her favorite local businesses.
“Now I just want to go to the movies. I want to go to Atascadero’s Galaxy Theater,” Bradbury said.
For Melinda Luce, she knows what’s at stake when it comes to COVID-19 after losing her mother to the disease last summer.
She says she is happy to go to her vaccination appointment.
“I want to help everyone. I want to be part of the solution to that and I want this virus to end,” Luce said.
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ORIGINAL HISTORY: San Luis Obispo County opens COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to all residents 50 years of age or older.
Public health officials say the increase in vaccine supply allows them to expand eligibility to more than 50,000 community members.
The health department says it has enough supply to administer 10,000 first doses this week and at least 10,000 doses next week.
SLO County previously opened vaccine eligibility to the following groups:
- Health and community health personnel
- Residents and long-term care staff
- Education and child care workers
- Food and agriculture workers
- Emergency service workers
- Public transport workers
- Cleaning service workers
- Residents at high risk due to certain serious medical conditions or disabilities
- Residents living or working in a homeless shelter or behavioral health center
To date, health officials say about 110,000 doses of vaccine have been administered in San Luis Obispo County.
To find out if you are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in SLO County and register for an appointment, click here.