Category Archives: Vaccine

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA, Solano Supervisor Monica Brown, Vaccine

Solano Supervisor Monica Brown – update on vaccines and more

[Editor: I highly recommend Supervisor Brown’s newsletter.  Go to solanocounty.com/depts/bos/members/brown/default.asp and click at top right on “Get e-mail updates when this information changes.”  – R.S.]

February 11, 2021

SUPERVISOR MONICA BROWN CORONAVIRUS UPDATE 42

Hello Benicia, Fairfield, and Vallejo,

Welcome to my most recent coronavirus update. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at mebrown@solanocounty.com or at 707-784-3031.

VACCINES

I know the vaccines are important to everyone. We have, as of February 8th, vaccinated 35,500 people in Solano County. We have had mass vaccination events in Vallejo and Benicia and are planning on more. The subject of vaccinating teachers to allow reopening schools is something I have received many emails about. I wrote a letter to the Governor asking that teachers be vaccinated with all deliberate speed.

I also requested that our school districts be given funding to operate a voluntary summer school program. I believe this is necessary to offer an opportunity to make up for lost time in the classroom. The Fairfield-Suisun School District has informed my office they are planning a summer school program.

I know we all want the vaccine rollout to move faster, but the hard truth continues to be that we simply do not have enough vaccines for all those eligible to receive the vaccine. We will hopefully be able to open vaccine eligibility to those 65 and over in the next couple of weeks. Please remember that eligibility for the vaccine does not necessarily equate to availability of the vaccine. Availability continues to be constrained by our supply.

The Johnson and Johnson vaccine will hopefully be approved soon on an emergency basis. Since this vaccine will only require one dose, its approval will dramatically increase the nation’s capacity to vaccinate. Also, the production of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines is also expected to increase.

The state has vaccinated about 10% of our population. Solano is at about 8%. I encourage everyone to sign up for the vaccine interest form. This list is where the county will pull names from when we have mass vaccination clinics.

CVS is offering vaccinations to those eligible and lists Vallejo as a participating pharmacy. Although the Vallejo site is listed as full at this time, please keep checking back here to see if they have availability. https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine

This weekend (Friday the 12th and Saturday the 13th), the county will have a vaccination site at the fairgrounds. While the appointments have probably filled up by now, you can call or fill out the form to see if there is still availability.

For more information about vaccine numbers, tiers, signing up for the interest form, or seeing if there is still space this weekend, please visit: https://solanocounty.com/depts/ph/coronavirus_links/covid_19_vaccines.asp

COVID NUMBERS

While our coronavirus numbers are still too high, we have seen much improvement from the holiday surges. We will see in the next week or two whether we will have a surge from Super Bowl gatherings. For more information about our numbers and other coronavirus information, please visit: https://solanocounty.com/depts/ph/coronavirus.asp

EVICTION PROTECTIONS

I want to remind everyone that Solano County’s eviction protections extend until 90 days after the state lifts the emergency order. Evictions cannot happen until 90 days after the state order is lifted in Solano County.

The county has approved a plan to administer the funds we received for rental assistance at the February 9th Board meeting. We will be looking for an administrator to oversee the distribution of the funds. Once we have the administrator and the application process, I will be providing that information in an update.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH RESOLUTION

On Tuesday February 9th, the Board of Supervisors approved a resolution recognizing February as Black History Month.

BENICIA CITY CEMETERY

The Benicia City Cemetery has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This honor recognizes Benicia’s historic character.

FAIRFIELD GENERAL PLAN UPDATE

The city of Fairfield is updating the General Plan. This will govern development in the city for decades to come. There will be zoom community workshops tonight (Thursday February 11th) at 6pm and Saturday Feb. 13th at 10am. For more information, please visit: https://www.fairfieldforward.com/

VALLEJO NATIVE PERFORMS AT SUPERBOLW

Vallejo native H.E.R. performed “America the Beautiful” at the Super Bowl. This was a major accomplishment. Solano County, and Vallejo specifically, is extremely proud. https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2021/02/08/photo-vallejos-h-e-r-performs-at-super-bowl/

SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES FOR VALENTINE’S DAY

As Valentine’s day approaches, please consider supporting our local businesses if you plan on doing something special.

Sailor Jack’s in downtown Benicia has outdoor dining and a wonderful menu. Bookshop Benicia on First Street has an excellent collection for that perfect gift.  The Napa Deli in Fairfield has a fine selection of foods available. Liled’s candy shop in Vallejo has amazing ice cream and incredibly tasty chocolates. Liled’s is located at 1318 Tennessee St in Vallejo. Liled’s has been in Vallejo since 1936 and is a local treasure.

Our local businesses are essential to our community and they need our support now more than ever.

The above businesses are examples of local businesses. There are many local businesses in Benicia, Fairfield, and Vallejo that need our support. For more information about local businesses for your special Valentine’s day treat, here are some links:

Thank you for reading my most recent update. Please continue to wear your masks, socially distance, follow all health guidelines, and spread kindness in our community.

Sincerely,

Monica Brown,
Solano County Supervisor, District 2

First elected in 2016, Monica represents District 2 on the Solano County Board of Supervisors. District 2 encompasses the city of Benicia, the portion of Vallejo south of Georgia Street, Mare Island, Cordelia, Green Valley and a portion of Fairfield. 

Benicia School Board, Benicia Unified School District, BUSD Superintendent Charles Young, Coronavirus, Covid 19, In-person learning, Vaccine

Benicia School Superintendent: Goal to begin in-person learning on March 22

Update from Superintendent Dr. Young 2/11/2021

Feb 11, 2021 | BUSD Latest News

Dr. Charles F. Young, Superintendent, Benicia Unified School District

Dear Community and Staff,

As we head into the four-day weekend, Monday being President’s Day and an opportunity to pause and reflect on the long lineage of presidents in our great country, I wanted to provide a quick update on matters related to in-person learning.

In-person Learning Review:  During the January 14 Board meeting, the Trustees voted to remain in distance learning through March 19, 2021, with the desire to return to in-person instruction, implementing the approved hybrid learning plan, on March 22, 2021, which is the first day of the 4th quarter, State rules permitting.

The good news is recent COVID-19 case rate data is showing positive signs of trending in the right direction in the three primary categories:  New COVID-19 positivity rates per day per 100k, positivity rate (7 day average) and ICU availability.

Please use the following link for detailed COVID-19 data.  Hover your cursor over Solano County for our data. https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/)

As a follow-up to the February 4th Board meeting, the Trustees asked that we explore options related to small group, in-person instruction before the implementation date of the larger hybrid plan mentioned above.  We will be discussing this item at the upcoming Board meeting on Thursday, February 18th.

Safety Plans:  Since the January 14th Board meeting, the State established a new requirement called the COVID-19 Safety Plan, which consists of a COVID-19 Prevention Program and COVID-19 Guidance Checklist.  Districts are required to submit this plan to the County Health Director for approval before heading back to K-6 grades in-person hybrid learning.  Fortunately, we worked very closely with our two unions earlier in the year and passed two Memorandums of Understanding (MOU’s), which outline, in considerable detail, the required safety elements for in-person instruction.

Most, if not all, of the safety requirements are included in the MOU’s and we were able to transfer them to the COVID-19 Prevention Program which is nearing completion for submission.  Please find the COVID-19 Prevention Program linked here.  If you have any feedback or comments, please email them to Dr. Gill, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources:  kgill@beniciaunified.org.

Vaccine:  Although the COVID-19 vaccination is not required for in-person learning, the enhanced protection and sense of safety it provides, is obvious.  The main challenge, as per Dr. Matyas, the Solano County Health Director, and who presented at the last Board meeting of February 4th (recording), centers on the demand for the vaccine being greater than the supply.  We are continuing to work closely with Dr. Matyas regarding a specific date and plan for the availability and distribution of the vaccine in BUSD.

The following link will take you to the Solano County Health Department’s COVID-19 Vaccination plan.  This is a VERY useful website and provides all related information related to the vaccine and its distribution, including the following COVID-19 interest form sent to all staff last week.  https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/ph/coronavirus_links/covid_19_vaccines.asp

Governor’s Safe Schools for All Plan:  In my last newsletter, I referenced the Governor’s plan and that it was still being negotiated in the legislature.  As of today, we do not have any clear updates regarding this plan and whether or not it will be passed.  I will provide more information as it is made available to us.

LCAP/Strategic Plan Survey:  We are beginning the process of collecting information on key goals and initiatives for our LCAP/Strategic plan.  This document plays a central role in providing clear direction for key initiatives and goals for our district.  Your input is vital to this process.  Please watch for an additional email with a link to the survey.

Thank you!
Charles Young

Benicia Mayor Steve Young, Benicia Unified School District, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Schools, Vaccine

Benicia Mayor and Solano County Public Health Officer disagree whether teachers should get vaccine sooner

Benicia mayor asks Solano supervisors to move teachers to front of vaccination line

Fairfield Daily Republic, By Todd R. Hansen, February 10, 2021
Benicia Mayor Steve Young

Benicia Mayor Steve Young asked the Solano County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to move teachers to the front of the vaccination line so schools can open quickly and safely.

“And the key, as I see it, and absolutely to do that, is being able to vaccinate each teacher and member of the (schools’) staff,” Young said.

Educators are scheduled as part of the first tier of Phase 1B, the same as residents who are 65 to 74, agriculture workers, as well as child care and adult care workers.

The county is currently working through the groups in the final tier of Phase 1A.

Dr. Bela Matyas, the county public health officer, said the next group of seniors need to be the top priority since 80% of the county’s Covid-related deaths are residents who are 65 or older.

“So if we want to make a dent in our fatalities, we have to focus on (residents) 65 and older,” Matyas said in a phone interview after the board meeting. He was not part of the meeting agenda.

Matyas said he was aware of the pressure being applied to get teachers vaccinated more quickly, but does not agree that politicizing the issue is the best way to make health decisions.

Young’s comments came during the public comment period of the board meeting, during which Michele Guerra also called on the board to open the schools.

She said students, especially those who are deaf or hard of hearing, need to be back in the classrooms.

“Students are struggling with all this technology,” she said. “We need to get these schools open. Many of these students are falling behind.”

The board heard a similar message early in the pandemic from Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson.

She told the board she was concerned with the potential effects of having schools closed on students with disabilities because of the reliance on distance learning and technology.

The schools closed to in-class instruction at the start of the pandemic in March. The vast majority remain closed, with children and teens receiving instruction online from their teachers….

Coronavirus, Coronavirus variant, Covid 19, San Francisco Bay Area, Vaccine

South Africa coronavirus variant that reduces vaccine efficacy found in two Bay Area counties

A worker is seen at a coronavirus testing site in San Francisco in November. The city has had no known cases of the South Africa variant, but elsewhere in the Bay Area two cases have been recorded.
A worker is seen at a coronavirus testing site in San Francisco in November. The city has had no known cases of the South Africa variant, but elsewhere in the Bay Area two cases have been recorded. Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle 2020
San Francisco Chronicle, by Erin Allday, Feb. 10, 2021

Two cases of a coronavirus variant first found in South Africa that reduces the effectiveness of some vaccines have been identified in the Bay Area, in Alameda and Santa Clara counties, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday.

They are the first two cases of this variant, called B.1.351, to be found in California. They were identified by scientists at the Stanford Clinical Virology Laboratory Tuesday night and reported to the state Wednesday morning.

Variants that are more infectious or reduce vaccine effectiveness pose a threat to the state’s ability to control and quickly end the pandemic, public health officials have said. More than 150 cases of a variant first identified in the United Kingdom that is known to be more infectious have been found in California, including Alameda and San Mateo counties.

Another pair of closely related variants identified in California have been spreading quickly in the Bay Area and Southern California. Scientists believe those variants respond to vaccines but they are running tests now to determine if they reduce effectiveness. They’re also studying whether the variants are more infectious.

The variant from South Africa is considered particularly concerning because studies have found that it is able to partially evade the body’s immune response, whether it’s generated from a vaccine or previous infection with the coronavirus. So far the vaccines appear to prevent severe disease and death from the variant.

“The British variant, it’s still susceptible to vaccines and it’s going to spread anyway. But let’s get this one back in the box,” said Dr. George Rutherford, an infectious disease expert at UCSF.

As of Tuesday, nine cases of the variant from South African had been identified in three states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That number did not include the new California cases.

“These variants are here,” Dr. Nicholas Moss, the Alameda County health officer, said at a press event on Wednesday. “We should prepare and plan accordingly.” Because relatively few coronavirus cases are genomically sequenced, he said, “we only have a very limited picture of their spread locally.”

Dr. Benjamin Pinsky, who heads the Stanford lab that found the variants, said they are identified through a process that first screens positive coronavirus samples for specific mutations. Samples that have those mutations then go through genomic sequencing to confirm the variant.

The two cases announced on Wednesday were from samples sent to the lab about a week to ten days ago, Pinsky said. His lab also identified the first cases of the variant from the United Kingdom found in the Bay Area.

The two vaccines currently available in the United States, made by Pfizer and Moderna, provide some protection against B.1.351, but perhaps less than the initial virus from China for which they were designed.

The Moderna vaccine induced an immune response six times lower against the variant from South African compared to earlier variants, the company said in late January after conducting a small study. But even this lower level of immune response, or neutralizing antibodies, is likely enough to protect against COVID-19, the company said.

Still, Moderna is testing a booster vaccine to see if it can provide more immunity.

Similarly, the Pfizer vaccine also induced a slightly lower level of neutralizing antibodies against the variant but it should still be enough to protect against COVID-19, according to studies by Pfizer and the University of Texas Medical Branch. The difference is “unlikely to lead to a significant reduction in the effectiveness of the vaccine,” Pfizer said.

Pfizer and Moderna are both made using messenger RNA, a type of technology that allows vaccine manufacturers to tweak vaccines quickly to account for variants. So the companies could essentially “plug in” a slightly adjusted genetic sequence into the vaccine. This could still be concerning, though, because even though the vaccine itself could be tweaked fast, it would take time to produce and distribute.

Also concerning is whether other vaccines in the pipeline, particularly one made by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, will work against emerging variants. South Africa recently stopped using the AstraZeneca vaccine because of reduced effectiveness. That vaccine is not yet approved for use in the United States. South Africa switched to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which has yet to be authorized in any country but in clinical studies was shown to be 57% effective at preventing moderate to severe disease caused by B.1.351.

Scientists in South Africa also have said that people who were previously infected with other coronavirus variants appear to be susceptible to reinfection with the new one.

Moss of Alameda County expressed optimism about vaccines. But meanwhile, he said, “We have to stick with the things we know work for the time being. That means, face coverings, distancing, and limiting gatherings.”

“The most important thing with variants is to just limit the amount of COVID that is out there,” he added.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writers Aidin Vaziri and Catherine Ho contributed to this report.  Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.