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Drop-In COVID Vaccinations Available In Santa Clara County Through Sunday

SAN JOSE (CBS SF/KPIX) -- With vaccine scarcity no longer a problem in in Santa Clara County, people will be able to get vaccinated without an appointment during a "Drop-In Week" beginning Tuesday, health officials announced.

Anyone 16 years of age or older who lives, works, or attends school in Santa Clara County is eligible for vaccination and most of the County Health System's vaccination sites will accept drop-ins through Sunday.

After seemingly endless stories about shortages and canceled appointments, these five little words are welcome news from the heart of Silicon Valley, "We have plenty of vaccine," said Dr. Marty Fentersheib, Chief Vaccine Officer for Santa Clara County.

Public health officials say they want to remove any hurdles to getting vaccinated.

"They don't have to look around for an appointment, try to figure out the Internet, they can just come down to one of our sites, just walk in and get your vaccination."

Same day appointments are also available across the county, including at Levi's Stadium and the Eastridge Mall/Aloha Roller Rink site.

Dr. Fentersheib says fewer appointments are being made with at least 65 percent of people in Santa Clara County having already received one dose. Arm scarcity is now the problem.

"We're starting to see a little bit of drop off on demand. In the past we had a very high demand and supply was low. Now we have enough supply, we're seeing a drop off on demand."

As for that herd immunity we've heard so much about, Stanford Professor of Medicine and infectious disease specialist, Dr. Dean Winslow says, "We want to basically eliminate the disease, that's more important than herd immunity. If you look back at other diseases - we've seldom been able to get to herd immunity, but we've still been able to eliminate the disease."

The drop-in availability is subject to subject to supply and capacity limitations, the county said. Health officials were also working to increase evening and weekend availability for appointments and drop-in clinics to ensure ready access for the entire community.

"Now is the time to get vaccinated," said Santa Clara County COVID-19 Vaccine Officer Dr. Marty Fenstersheib in a prepared statement. "Vaccines are absolutely critical to protecting our community, and we won't rest until every eligible person in our community has the chance to get vaccinated."

For now, the drop-in, appointment-free model is slated to last through Sunday, May 1, but could be extended.

People looking for a drop-in vaccine are encouraged to arrive at least one hour before closing time.

Locations with multiple drop-in days:

Fairgrounds Expo Hall, 2542 Monterey Highway, Gate D, San Jose
Tuesday 4/27 through Sunday 5/2, 8:30am-4:30pm

County Service Center, 1555 Berger Drive, San Jose
Tuesday 4/27 through Friday 4/30, 7:30am-4:30pm

Emmanuel Baptist Church, 467 North White Road, San Jose
Tuesday 4/27 through Friday 4/30, 8:45am-4pm

Mexican Heritage Plaza, 1700 Alum Rock Avenue, San Jose
Tuesday 4/27 through Thursday 4/29, 10:30am-4:30pm (Tues/Thurs); 12pm-5pm (Weds)

Gilroy High School, 750 West 10th Street, Gilroy
Tuesday 4/27 through Friday 4/30, 8:30am-3:30pm

Mountain View Community Center, 201 South Rengstorff Avenue, Mountain View
Tuesday 4/27 through Friday 4/30, 8:30am-5:45pm

Overfelt High School, 1835 Cunningham Avenue, San Jose
Thursday 4/29 through Sunday 5/2, 10am-3pm (Th/Sun); 10am-5pm (Fri/Sat)

Single-day drop-in clinics:

Martial Cottle Park, 391 Chynoweth Street, San Jose (enter on side entrance at Chynoweth Street)
Tuesday 4/27, 10am– 4:30pm

Our Lady of Refuge, 2165 Lucretia Avenue, San Jose
Wednesday 4/28, 10am – 4:00 pm

Milpitas Sports Center, 1325 E Calaveras Blvd, Milpitas
Wednesday 4/28, 10am – 4pm

ConXion, 749 Story Road, San Jose
Thursday 4/29, 10am-5pm

Tafatolu Congregational Church, 2510 Alvin Avenue, San Jose
Thursday 4/29, 9:30am – 4pm

Saint John Vianney Office Center, 4600 Hyland Avenue, San Jose
Friday 4/30, 10pm – 4pm

Andria Borba contributed to this report.

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