This crossed my news feed this morning.. this might explain the feeling that the vaccine distribution has been uneven in the state of CA:
The report published Wednesday used data on vaccine coverage for the first 2.5 months of...
www.sfgate.com
I operate a fertilizer manufacturing plant in rural central California, in a location that would be considered "disadvantaged" probably by almost any measure, and also one that has been heavily impacted by Covid. Most people here are essential employees -- there was never a sense of "lockdown" around here. There are also big prisons in the area that have contributed to the numbers.
My employees are all eligible for vaccines as ag workers. What I am seeing, at least for the past month, is that there is plenty of vaccine available around here. In fact, the clinics the county is making available to us seem to have a very hard time filling all their appointment slots.
After seeing there were a bunch of holdouts among my staff, I just got everyone together last week and started offering $100 Home Depot gift cards to anyone who brought in their vax card showing they got their first dose. I also told them that we wouldn't force them to get it, but we would be pretty unhappy if they did not get the vaccine, then got Covid, and that it was a workplace safety issue. I told them if they had questions about the vaccine or had reason not to get it, to come talk to me.
The resulting experience convinces me that their is a huge amount of misinformation in the community about getting the vaccine. People are afraid to get it because they know little about it and what it might do to their bodies. They jokingly referred to getting microchipped -- but my impression was it was really only half-joking, they don't truly think they are getting chipped, but that maybe there could be something else in there. People think that they can't be around their kids after getting the vaccine because their kids could catch covid from them. I'm sure there are other ridiculous rumors about the shot people believe but are embarrassed to tell me. Sadly, I suspect political leanings also have an effect. I encouraged some more people to get the vaccine, but there are still holdouts. Frustratingly, the holdouts seem to be the same people who are the most resistant to following covid prevention protocols.
So there is more to this than getting vaccine out to these communities. The state needs to do a MUCH better job at educating people, and I'm just not seeing that at all.
It took him 15 mins just to drive to the 15 mins waiting area!!!! BUT he got it and will get the next one in April! No soreness as of yet. We shall how the night goes.
