Health officials announce food, agriculture, educators get expanded COVID vaccination status

This move will allow Hanford’s OptumServe site, until recently used as a COVID-19 testing site, to serve local residents who may work in these key county sectors – regardless of their Tier 1A eligibility that mandates initial priority to healthcare workers and staff and residents of long-term health care facilities.

Currently,  individuals 65 years of age or older are also still eligible for appointments and can visit www.myturn.ca.gov or contact the State’s call center at1-833-422-4255 for assistance with booking an appointment.

Local pharmacies are also making vaccines available. A list of local pharmacies offering vaccine appointments can be found at https://vaccinefinder.org/. Additionally, the Kings County Department of Public Health (KCDPH) has also requested the local OptumServe vaccination site increase availability in the County using the MyTurn platform.

KCDPH is currently using other online tools and frequent messaging to direct residents to available appointment slots. Currently, MyTurn not only allows out-of-county residents to register anywhere in the State but actually pushes them notifications for available appointments in different locations throughout the State.

Based on limited vaccine supply and concerns around equitable distribution, KCDPH currently only vaccinates people who live or work in Kings County. The local health department also uses outreach to underserved communities, closed Points of Dispensing (PODs), and clinics in outlying areas to help ensure the County’s most vulnerable residents are prioritized in vaccination efforts.

Because MyTurn uses open availability statewide to help people find appointments, there remain concerns around the platform’s ability to support an equitable approach, especially in rural areas that lack internet connectivity.

KCDPH will be reintegrating MyTurn into vaccine distribution as required by the State. The platform does allow people to search for appointments in their surrounding area and register simultaneously for their first and second dose entirely online, which has tremendous benefits in terms of convenience for the public.

Lastly, Kings County vaccine providers are coming together to continue vaccinating Phase 1A and Phase 1B adults 65+, expanding eligibility to the Food and Ag and Education sectors in the coming days. Additional appointments and events for high-risk groups within these sectors are planned for very soon, including services to be provided by KCDPH, Adventist Health, Aria, Family Healthcare Network, Omni Family Health, and United Healthcare.