Susan Peakall, Author at Mendocino Coast Clinics

Mendocino Coast Clinics will be hosting a 40 person drive through Moderna Vaccine event at the Clinic, 205 South Street in Fort Bragg, each Friday in May from 5:30-7:30 PM:

May 7th
May 14th
May 21st
May 28th

Call us at 964-1251 to schedule your vaccine appointment.

Second vaccines will be given four weeks from your first dose.

Mendocino Coast Clinics organizará unas vacunas de 40 personas a través del evento Moderna Vaccine en la Clínica, 205 South Street en Fort Bragg, todos los viernes de mayo de 5:30-7:30 PM:

7 de mayo
14 de mayo
21 de mayo
28 de mayo

Llámenos al 964-1251 para hacer su cita.

Las segundas vacunas se administrarán cuatro semanas después de su primera dosis.

Si bien estamos entusiasmados por llevar la vacuna COVID-19 a nuestra comunidad y dar un paso más para regresar a la vida normal, también sabemos que muchos mitos están circulando en línea. Para dejar las cosas claras, nos gustaría compartir seis datos clave sobre la vacuna.

While we are excited about getting the COVID-19 vaccine out to our community and taking one step closer to returning to normal life, we also know many myths are circulating online. To set the record straight, we’d like to share six key facts about the vaccine.

Mendocino County, CA – During the pandemic, local community health centers have spent untold, and often unpaid, hours testing and vaccinating their patients and other community members to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Thanks to federal funding, many of these organizations will be receiving some much-needed financial relief.

The American Rescue Plan Act provides one-time funding for a two-year period to support health centers funded under the Health Center Program “to prevent, mitigate, and respond to coronavirus disease 2019 and to enhance health care services and infrastructure,” according to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

In Mendocino County, the federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) funded by the Health Center Program include Anderson Valley Health Center in Boonville, Long Valley Health Center in Laytonville, MCHC Health Centers in Ukiah and Willits, Mendocino Coast Clinics in Fort Bragg, and Redwood Coast Medical Services in Gualala. FQHCs and affiliated rural health centers such as Baechtel Creek Medical Clinic in Willits serve about two-thirds of people in Mendocino County, providing everything from medical care to behavioral health services, dental care, and some specialty services.

These health centers are deeply embedded in the communities they serve, having fostered extensive networks and trusting relationships that allow them to reach even the most underserved populations. Some health centers work in partnership with other agencies to provide street medicine to those without stable homes. Many FQHCs have well-established relationships with local school districts to assist children in poverty. Still others work with agencies that support housing, food distribution, and other services to connect with patients who need health care.

Mendocino Coast Clinics Executive Director Lucresha Renteria explained that she and other local health center leaders did what they felt they must do to care for their communities and hoped financial reimbursement would follow. Happily for them, it has. MCC will receive $2.23m. Redwood Coast Medical Services will receive $1.33m. Long Valley Health Center and Anderson Valley Health Center received $971k and $940k respectively.

“We’ve continually put patients above revenues whenever there was a question of safety. For example, when we see patients via telehealth, we receive about 50 percent of our usual rate from Medicare for in-person care. But we shifted to telehealth, because it was safer for people to receive care from home, especially medically vulnerable patients,” she explained. Renteria gave example after example of additional costs resulting from the pandemic, from supplies to facility upgrades.

Usually, local health centers negotiate purchasing agreements so they can buy items in bulk at a lower cost. However, when the pandemic hit, shortages of gloves, masks, swabs, and other essentials required health centers to buy supplies from non-preferred vendors at non-preferred rates. Meanwhile, more intensive cleaning between patients slowed things down, leading to fewer patient visits. Health centers are paid on a per-visit basis. Also, health centers upgraded their facilities and purchased extra equipment to improve safety. At Mendocino Coast Clinics, they installed a $40,000 touchless door entry system and purchased special oral suction units in the Dental Department to reduce airborne particles.

One of the biggest unanticipated expenses involved COVID testing and vaccination. Some health centers received grant funding for testing, but they did not receive reimbursement for the staffing and supplies associated with the community vaccination clinics they provided. Testing and vaccination expenses included tent rentals for outdoor events, temporary signage, testing supplies, the cost of shipping tests to labs, and most significantly, the staff time to administer tests and vaccines and coordinate the logistics, from patient appointments to extensive data entry required by government databases. Chloe Guazzone, executive director of Anderson Valley Health Center, said, “CHCs in Mendocino County have tried hard to ensure that not a single person in Mendocino County has been left out when it comes to COVID testing, treatment and vaccination.”

Renteria agreed and added, “FQHCs throughout the county had to maintain primary care services while balancing the community need for testing and vaccinations. At MCC, we hired nurses to create a vaccination team. We also had to pull some employees off their regular duties to help with vaccine clinics.”

Some employees had to take leaves of absence to care for young children who were forced into distance learning from home when schools closed their campuses. The remaining employees took on additional duties, often requiring overtime, and supported one another as best they could.

Many community health centers collaborated with Mendocino County Public Health, especially when personal protective equipment and disinfectant wipes were scarce. At times, the County Medical Health Operational Area Coordination (MHOAC) Program was able to order essential supplies and provide them to medical facilities free of charge. Renteria said, “Partnering with Public Health to make sure testing and vaccinations were deployed countywide put us in the top five California counties for vaccine coverage.”

With this new funding, health centers can continue and expand essential health services. According to HRSA, the American Recovery Plan funds are to be used for the following purposes: (1) Plan, prepare for, promote, distribute, administer, and track COVID–19 vaccines, and carry out other vaccine-related activities; (2) Detect, diagnose, trace, and monitor COVID–19 infections and related activities necessary to mitigate the spread of COVID–19, including activities related to, and equipment or supplies purchased for, testing, contact tracing, surveillance, mitigation, and treatment of COVID-19; (3) Purchase equipment and supplies to conduct mobile testing or vaccinations for COVID–19, purchase and maintain mobile vehicles and equipment to conduct such testing or vaccinations, and hire and train laboratory personnel and other staff to conduct such mobile testing or vaccinations, particularly in medically underserved areas; (4) Establish, expand, and sustain the health care workforce to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID–19, and to carry out other health work force-related activities; (5) Modify, enhance, and expand health care services and infrastructure; and (6) Conduct community outreach and education activities related to COVID–19.

[Spanish version below – Versión en español a continuación]

Last week, California opened up eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines to teens aged 16 and up. We have a good supply of Pfizer vaccines and are ready to vaccinate our community’s teens – and anyone else who wants one! We are planning to give these Pfizer vaccines on Friday, April 23. Just give us a call at 964 1251 to get on the schedule. #ShotOfHope

La semana pasada, California abrió la elegibilidad para las vacunas COVID-19 para adolescentes de 16 años en adelante. Tenemos un buen suministro de vacunas Pfizer y estamos listos para vacunar a los adolescentes de nuestra comunidad, ¡y a cualquier otra persona que desee una! Estamos planeando administrar estas vacunas Pfizer el viernes 23 de abril. Solo llámanos al 964 1251 para hacer una cita. #VacunateYa

[Spanish version below – Versión en español a continuación]

As of today, April 15, Californians aged 16 and up are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine!

If you are 16 or 17, you will need parental consent to be vaccinated.

We are expecting at least 300 first doses of the Pfizer vaccine for the week of April 19. Give us a call at 964-1251 or email us at info@mccinc.org with your name, date of birth, and phone number to get scheduled for the vaccine. If the schedule is full, we will place you on the wait list and schedule you as soon as we can. #shotofhope

¡A partir de hoy, 15 de abril, los californianos de 16 años en adelante son elegibles para la vacuna COVID-19!

Si tiene 16 o 17 años, necesitará el consentimiento de los padres para vacunarse.

Esperamos al menos 300 primeras dosis de la vacuna Pfizer para la semana del 19 de abril. Llámenos al 964-1251 o envíenos un correo electrónico a info@mccinc.org con su nombre, fecha de nacimiento y número de teléfono para programar la cita. para la vacuna. Si el horario está lleno, lo colocaremos en la lista de espera y lo programaremos tan pronto como podamos. #VacunateYa

Effective immediately, MCC has paused the use of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA will review the vaccine and MCC will take further action once that review is done and recommendations are made. Read the joint CDC and FDA statement here.

[Spanish version below – Versión en español a continuación]

April is National Minority Health Month, and this year’s theme is #VaccineReady.

Have you been vaccinated yet? If not, call us at 964 1251 or email us at info@mccinc.org. If so, help your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles connect with us to get their vaccine. You will not be asked about immigration status or be required to provide identification. MCC is proud to support the HHS Office of Minority Health and other partners to encourage communities to be vaccine ready. #NMHM2021 #VaccineReady

Abril es el Mes Nacional de la Salud de las Minorías y el tema de este año es #VaccineReady.

¿Ya ha sido vacunado? De lo contrario, llámenos al 964 1251 o envíenos un correo electrónico a info@mccinc.org. Si es así, ayude a sus padres, abuelos, tías y tíos a conectarse con nosotros para recibir su vacuna. No se le preguntará sobre el estado migratorio ni se le pedirá que proporcione una identificación. MCC se enorgullece de apoyar a la Oficina de Salud de las Minorías del HHS y a otros socios para alentar a las comunidades a estar preparadas para las vacunas. # NMHM2021 #ListoParaLaVacuna

El condado de Mendocino está en el Nivel Naranja!

Este cambio en la estructura de niveles permite que el condado de Mendocino cambie al siguiente nivel naranja menos restrictivo en el Plan Estatal para una Economía Más Segura. El cambio al Nivel Naranja entrará en vigencia el miércoles 7 de abril, y estará reflejado en una revisada Orden del Oficial de Salud del Condado de Mendocino que entrará en vigencia el 7 de abril, a las 12:01 a.m.

Las actividades aprobadas deben ser revisadas en el Plan para una Economía Más Segura publicado por el estado de California, disponible en el siguiente enlace:

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/…/Dimmer-Framework-September…

Algunas de las actividades aprobadas incluyen, entre otras, las siguientes:

????? que no proporcionen comidas podrán abrir al aire libre solo con medidas de seguridad como el distanciamiento, el uso de cubrebocas y el control de infecciones. Las mascarillas son requeridas excepto cuando las personas están comiendo o bebiendo.
?????????́??, ??????́?? ? ?????????́?? que no sirven comidas ahora pueden abrir en espacios interiores al 25% de su capacidad o 100 personas, lo que sea menos.
???????????? pueden aumentar la capacidad para comer en el interior al 50% de su capacidad o 200 personas, lo que sea menor, con continuas modificaciones de seguridad.
??????? ?? ????? pueden albergar servicios en interiores al 50% de su capacidad con modificaciones.
????????? pueden operar en interiores al 25% de su capacidad, y las piscinas bajo techo ahora pueden reabrir con modificaciones. El uso de mascarillas es requerido, a menos que esté nadando.
????? ?? ???? pueden aumentar la capacidad al 50% o 200 personas, lo que sea menor con modificaciones. Los asientos deben ser reservados y cada grupo debe tener seis pies de distancia de otros grupos, en todas las direcciones. El uso de mascarilla es requerido.
??????? ?? ????????? ? ?????????? abren en espacios interiores con modificaciones.
??????? ?? ???????, ???????́?? ? ????????? ?? ??????? ???????? abren en interiores con modificaciones.

El avance al Nivel Naranja refleja la paciencia y la perseverancia de toda nuestra comunidad en el Condado de Mendocino. El cambio al Nivel Naranja también sucede mientras el Condado continúa avanzando en las vacunas, a pesar del suministro.

Mientras esperamos que todos tengan acceso a las vacunas, el Condado insta a todos a recordar que las actividades en espacios interiores presentan un riesgo mucho mayor que las actividades al aire libre y de adoptar todas las medidas posibles para reducir el riesgo tanto como sea posible. Esto es especialmente crítico dada la reciente detección de variantes en el Condado de Mendocino.

Para mantenerse seguro a usted mismo, a su familia, a sus amigos y vecinos, y a nuestra comunidad en general, siga estos principios básicos:

1.??????? ?? ??????????. El uso constante de mascarillas tanto en interiores como en exteriores, especialmente el uso de doble mascarilla, es muy eficaz para prevenir la propagación del coronavirus.

?????́????? ?? ???? ?????. Las actividades al aire libre son mucho más seguras que en espacios interiores.
???????? ??? ????????? ?? ?? ????? ???? ???? ?? ??? ????́?. El distanciamiento social de quienes no viven en su hogar es eficaz para mantener alejado el coronavirus.
????? ??? ?????? ????? ?? ?? ?????, incluidas las multitudes. Cuantas menos personas encuentre y menos interacciones tenga, menor será la probabilidad de que el virus se propague.
????́???? ?????? ??? ?? ?????. Todas las vacunas autorizadas por la FDA para uso de emergencia funcionan bien y ayudarán a que usted, su familia y sus amigos estén seguros. Todas las personas de 16 años o más serán elegibles para las vacunas a partir del 15 de abril, así que llámenos al 964-1251 o envíe un correo electrónico a info@mccinc.org para estar en la lista de espera.

Mendocino County is in the Orange Tier!

This change in tier structure allows Mendocino County to shift to the less restrictive Orange Tier in the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The change to the Orange Tier will take effect Wednesday, April 7th and will be reflected in a revised Mendocino County Health Officer Order to go into effect on April 7th, at 12:01 a.m.

Approved activities should be reviewed on the Blueprint for a Safer Economy plan as released by the State of California available on the following link.

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/…/Dimmer-Framework-September…

Some of the approved activities include but are not limited to:

Bars that do not provide meals will be allowed to open outdoors only with distancing, masking and infection control safety measures. Masks are required except when people are eating or drinking.
?????????, ????????, ???????????? that do not serve meals can now open indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
??????????? can increase capacity for indoor dining to 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is less with continued safety modifications.
?????? ?? ??????? can hold services indoors at 50% capacity with modifications.
??????? ??????? can operate indoors at 25% capacity and indoor pools can now re-open with modifications. Masks are required unless swimming.
????? ???????? can increase capacity to 50% or 200 people, whichever is less with modifications. Seats must be reserved, and each group must have 6 feet of distance from other groups in all directions. Masks required.
??????? ??? ?????? ?????? open indoors with modifications.
???? ??????, ??????????? ??? ???????? ???? ???????? open indoors with modifications.

Advancement to the Orange Tier reflects the patience and persistence of our whole community in Mendocino County. The shift to the Orange Tier also comes as the County continues to make progress on vaccinations despite supply.

As we wait for everyone to have access to vaccines, the County urges all to remember that indoor activities pose a much higher risk than outdoor activities and to take every step to reduce risk as much as possible. This is especially critical given the recent detection of variants in Mendocino County.

To keep yourself, your family, your friends and neighbors, and our broader community safe, follow these core principles:

???? ??????. Consistent use of face coverings both indoors and outdoors, especially double-masking, is very effective at preventing spread of the coronavirus.
???? ????????. Outdoor activities are far safer than indoor ones.
???????? ?? ????? ?-???? ???????? ???? ??????. Social distancing from those who do not live in your home is effective at keeping the coronavirus away.
????? ?????? outside of your household including crowds. The fewer people you encounter and the fewer interactions you have, the lower the chance the virus will spread.

5. ??? ?????????? ???? ?? ?? ???? ????. All vaccines authorized by the FDA for emergency use work well and will help keep you, your family, and your friends safe. Everyone 16 and up will be eligible for vaccines as of April 15, so give us a call at 964-1251 or email info@mccinc.org to get on the waiting list.

Newer Posts

Older Posts

May is for Moderna/Mayo es para Moderna

Hechos de la vacuna

Vaccine Facts

Local Health Centers Receive Much-Needed Support from American Rescue Plan

Vaccines Available April 23/vacunas disponibles el 23 de abril

Vaccine Eligibility Changes/cambios en la elegibilidad de la vacuna

Pausing the Use of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

National Minority Health Month/Mes Nacional de la Salud de las Minorías

¡El condado de Mendocino está en el Nivel Naranja!

Mendocino County is in the Orange Tier!