Dear Patients,
On April 1, any Californian who is 50 years of age or older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. California has recently put a third-party administrator, Blue Shield in our area, in charge of the vaccine rollout which has changed the vaccine scheduling process at Sansum Clinic and we want to ensure you have the latest information:
Who is eligible as of April 1?
- Individuals age 50 years and older
- Individuals who work in the following sectors: Health Care, Education, Childcare, Emergency Services, Food and Agricultural, and Public Transit
- Individuals ages 16-49 with high-risk medical conditions, as outlined by the Santa Barbara Public Health Department
Book an appointment at myturn.ca.gov or call (833) 422-4255
- As soon as you are eligible, you can schedule an appointment through the California statewide system, My Turn. This system is administered through Blue Shield of California for our County and it provides you with access to vaccine appointments at Sansum Clinic and all other local vaccine providers, with the exception of some pharmacies which often use their own systems for making reservations. Appointments fill quickly. If you do not find an appointment, keep trying as new appointments are released weekly.
- If you’re not yet eligible or appointments are not available, sign up on My Turn to be notified when you’re eligible or when appointments open up.
The best vaccine is the one that is available.
All three approved vaccines – Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson – have gone through rigorous clinical trials and are all proven to be safe and highly effective in preventing severe COVID-19 disease, hospitalization and death. Your health is our top priority and we encourage you to take whichever vaccine is available to you, as soon as possible.
Who is eligible next?
- On April 15, all individuals who are 16 or older will be eligible to schedule their vaccine.
- – The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the only vaccine currently authorized for people 16-17 years old. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are authorized for people 18 years and older. At this time, the those vaccines are not authorized for children younger than 16 years of age.
- – To date, Sansum Clinic has not received any Pfizer vaccine; however, if people age 16-17 sign up on My Turn, they will be notified as soon as a vaccination appointment is available and where it will take place
At this time, none of the currently licensed COVID vaccines is recommended for children younger than 16 years of age, or those who have had an immediate allergic reaction to any ingredient in a COVID-19 vaccine. Discuss your personal situation and any health concerns with your health care provider to make the best decision for you. For more information, visit covid19.sansumclinic.org.
Remember, your actions continue to save lives. Once you are vaccinated, it is still recommended that you follow all safety protocols including wearing a mask, social distancing, avoiding large gatherings and non-essential travel.
We are in this together. Thank you for choosing Sansum Clinic – and remember, we’re all smiling under our masks.
Kurt N. Ransohoff, MD, FACP
CEO and Chief Medical Officer
Sansum Clinic