Despite reports yesterday that Mendocino County would be receiving its first shipment of 975 units of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccinations, the vaccine never showed up. Mendocino County CEO Carmel Angelo told us that the county was “told we would receive the vaccine yesterday, and it never arrived.”
CEO Angelo said the California Department of Public Health has reassured counties that did not receive the vaccine yesterday that they would be getting it today, Tuesday, December 15. Commenting on the state’s assurance of delivery, CEO Angelo said, “It is my hope and understanding we will receive the vaccine today.
According to the CDC, the vaccine must be stored in an ultra-cold freezer between -80⁰C and -60⁰C (-112⁰F and -76⁰F). Access to freezers that can maintain these low temperatures is limited in rural areas, and Mendocino County is not immune. CEO Angelo explained that it is “not unusual for counties not to have these deep freezers.”
CEO Angelo says the county is waiting on two freezers to arrive, with one “supposed to arrive later this week and one in the first week of January.” Orders of these freezers have been delayed, and CEO Angelo compared receiving the freezers to “getting ventilators when the pandemic started.”
Adventist Health will be providing the county access to a freezer capable of maintaining these low temperatures in an undisclosed location, says CEO Angelo.
Regarding subsequent shipments of the COVID-19 vaccine, CEO Angelo said, “I don’t think we are getting any of the next shipment, at least that is what we know right now.” She said the shipment scheduled to arrive today will “go to healthcare workers.”
