COVID Vaccines: Santa Clara Set To Deliver 1 Millionth Dose Amid Supply Influx - 'Something To Celebrate'
SAN JOSE (KPIX 5) -- Santa Clara County is poised to reach a major milestone this week when it delivers the one millionth COVID-19 shot since vaccine distribution began in December.
"That will be something to celebrate in a way, probably, in the next couple of days," said Santa Clara County Health COVID-19 Vaccine and Health Officer Dr. Marty Fenstersheib during a county supervisor meeting Tuesday.
This week's potential milestone comes as the nation is also expected to deliver the 200 millionth dose since President Joe Biden took office.
Santa Clara County is benefiting not only from a supply of doses from the state, but also a delivery from the federal government. Last week, the government supplied the county with 250,000 doses and this week it received 100,000. That's in addition to the estimated 70,000 doses the county received from the state this week.
The influx in supply is a far cry from the dramatic reduction several weeks ago that forced the cancellation of first dose appointments.
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Mares Ferido was among the many who searched for appointments late last month, but came up empty handed.
"It was pretty frustrating," said Ferido. "Nothing was popping up in my area. The only location that had a lot of appointments, an abundance of them, was Fresno."
Ferido, who is her elderly parents' caretaker, was desperate to receive the vaccine. She felt the nearly 200-mile drive from her parents' Santa Clara home was well worth it.
"I would go out and do some of the errands, take them to whatever appointments, so not being vaccinated I was exposing myself," Ferido said. "I'm glad there's appointments. I got my mom one. She has her appointment tomorrow."
But health officials are concerned the pace of vaccinations are slowing down, which could give the virus an opportunity to continue to mutate. Officials, including local leaders, are hoping to convince hesitant Americans to get the vaccine.
Meanwhile, a new U.S. Food and Drug Administration report released Wednesday found unsanitary conditions at the Johnson & Johnson plant where the manufacturer's vaccine is produced. Its doses is still on pause as reports of blood clots are under investigation.
Ferido, who is scheduled to get her second dose later this week, said she'll make the drive again if it means keeping her parents more protected from the virus.
"I don't have any regrets about having to go to Fresno," Ferido said.
