Trying to get a COVID-19 vaccination? Contra Costa Fire agencies are ready to help

Trying to get a COVID-19 vaccination? Contra Costa Fire agencies are ready to help

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, FEB. 9, 2021 – Having trouble getting a COVID-19 vaccine appointment? Contra Costa’s Fire departments can help.

Fire agencies across Contra Costa County will collaborate to host new appointment-only public vaccination clinics for eligible county residents. The combined, multi-agency effort leverages fire EMS and support personnel, along with law enforcement and other agencies, to help with vaccine distribution across the county.

The first of the new fire-service-hosted clinics took place in the City of Hercules Feb. 1 and 2.

The Hercules clinics will continue to operate Mondays and Tuesdays, dependent on vaccine availability. They will host additional clinics weekly in both east and south county locations.

Other locations

Current plans call for vaccine clinics in east county on select Fridays and Saturdays at Los Medanos College in Brentwood. In south county, clinics are currently planned for select Wednesdays and Thursdays at Bishop Ranch in San Ramon.

The initial goal of the fire-hosted clinics is delivery of 500 vaccinations per day. Each clinic is designed to be scalable to 1,000 or more doses based on vaccine availability and Contra Costa County Health Services (CCHS) guidance.

Regardless of location, all vaccination clinics across the county are by appointment only. Because of this, walk-up or drop-in vaccinations are not available. CCHS determines eligibility and you can review criteria and appointments on their vaccine website.

“As providers of emergency medical services across the county, our fire agencies are proud to be able to increase vaccine distribution in order to help further protect the communities we serve,” said Deputy Chief Aaron McAlister, fire rescue mutual aid coordinator for the operational area. “This multi-agency collaboration includes fire and law enforcement agencies, Contra Costa Health Services, community organizations and many volunteers.”

For more on eligibility, and to make an appointment online, visit www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/vaccine. For residents without internet access, the Contra Costa Health Services vaccination call center is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily at 1- 833-829-2626. Additional COVID-19 information is available at the CCHS multilingual call center at 1-844-729-8410.

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