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Orange County Coronavirus

How Many OC Nursing Home Residents Have Been Vaccinated? A Fractured Approach Creates Confusion

JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC

The coronavirus vaccination site at the Orange County Fire Authority headquarters in Irvine. Jan. 8, 2021.

By Spencer Custodio Spencer Custodio | January 28, 2021
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While there’s a statewide fractured coronavirus vaccination program for medical workers and people 65 and older, there’s also at least two different systems to vaccinate medically vulnerable seniors living in nursing homes across the state. 

Some are still waiting on their vaccines. 


Editor’s Note: As Orange County’s only nonprofit & nonpartisan newsroom, Voice of OC brings you the best, most comprehensive local Coronavirus news absolutely free. No ads, no paywalls. We need your help. Please, make a tax-deductible donation today to support your local news.


Nursing home residents make up less than 1% of the state’s population, but have 6% of all cases and 34% of deaths, according to information presented at a state Community Advisory Vaccine Committee meeting. 

According to the OC Health Care Agency, 1,123 residents have been killed by the virus in skilled nursing homes and assisted living homes since the pandemic began.  

Pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens have partnered with federal public health officials to distribute vaccines inside the homes. 

But not all nursing homes used the partnership. 

“Long term care facilities had the option of choosing to participate in the program or to receive distribution through the state distribution system. In California, the total number of eligible facilities is over 1,200 skilled nursing facilities and over 14,000 assisted living facilities,” state Department of Public Health officials said in a Wednesday email. 

It’s unclear how many in OC are using the pharmacy companies as vaccine distributors. 

If the homes didn’t choose the federal distribution system, it’s up to local health departments — like OC Health Care Agency — to help distribute vaccines to the medically vulnerable seniors. 

“Approximately 90% of skilled nursing facilities and 65% of assisted living facilities signed up for the federal program. For those that did not sign up for this program, local health departments in partnership with the facility make a determination about the distribution and administration of vaccine for the facility,” state officials said. 

It’s also unclear how teaming up with the local health department works. 

County public health officials haven’t publicly discussed partnering with nursing homes to vaccinate residents and workers and no plans have been publicly released. 

OC Health Care Agency Director Dr. Clayton Chau said he’s not sure what’s going on inside the nursing homes. 

“There is federal allotment that comes to the pharmacies that are vaccinating the long term care facilities and skilled nursing facilities as well. And we at the county level have no access to what those levels are,” Chau said at a news conference earlier this month. “From a county perspective we would like to see what is the total doses that are being allocated to the various entities.” 

A Walgreens corporate spokeswoman said the nursing home vaccines pharmacies administer to the elderly are based on state allocations. 

“Vaccines ordered by Walgreens are routed through a centralized CDC system based on state allocations. Orders are then transported from manufacturers to Walgreens cold storage hubs and stores. All Walgreens hubs meet cold storage requirements for both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines,” reads a Tuesday email. 

The email said Walgreens completed the first round of the two-part vaccinations for skilled nursing facilities — where residents have a higher need of medical care. 

But some assisted living facilities — where seniors don’t need constant medical attention, but help with daily routines like eating or bathing — haven’t had the vaccination yet. 

Orange resident Jill Swartz said the virus killed her 82-year-old mother before she was able to get vaccinated.

Swartz’ mother was staying at the Silverado Newport Mesa assisted living facility and the vaccine was expected in December.

Then it got delayed. 

“The head nurse had told me it’s like Orange County had been skipped over. I hold the Orange County Health Care Agency and the Board of Supervisors responsible — they really let down our most vulnerable residents,” Swartz said in a phone interview. 

She said some of her friends’ parents, who lived in similar homes as Swartz’ mother, were vaccinated by late December. 

Two days after county public health officials rolled out the Disneyland vaccination supersite, an outbreak worsened at the facility. 

“I would like to inform you as of late yesterday evening and early today we received notification that we have four additional residents and four associates that have tested positive for COVID-19,” reads a Jan. 15 email. 

Meanwhile, virus hospitalizations continue declining. 

As of Thursday, 1,592 people were hospitalized, including 439 in intensive care units. 

That’s still double the July peak during the first wave, when 722 people were hospitalized, including 238 in ICUs. 

Bodies are also piling up. 

Since January began, the county Health Care Agency has reported 995 deaths.

Newly reported deaths can stretch back weeks due to reporting delays. 

The virus has now killed 2,868 people so far, out of over a quarter million confirmed cases. 

It’s already killed five times as many people as the flu does on a yearly average.

For context, Orange County has averaged around 20,000 deaths a year since 2016, including  543 annual flu deaths, according to state health data.

According to the state death statistics, cancer kills over 4,600 people, heart disease kills over 2,800, more than 1,400 die from Alzheimer’s disease and strokes kill over 1,300 people.

Orange County has already surpassed its yearly average 20,000 deaths, with 21,110 people dead as of November, according to the latest available state data.

It’s a difficult virus for the medical community to tackle because some people don’t show any symptoms, yet can still spread it. Others feel slight symptoms, like fatigue and a mild fever.

Others end up in ICUs for days and weeks before making it out, while other people eventually die from the virus.

Swartz said she tried to pull her mother out of the assisted living home so she could get her vaccinated through the county’s massive vaccination program. 

 But she said Othena — the registration service plagued by outages, glitches, language barriers and erroneous registration — didn’t work. 

“So I tried that and it was just totally a disaster.”

For more details on the COVID-19 vaccine in Orange County view our Voice of OC information page: http://bit.ly/occovidvaccine.

Here’s the latest on the virus numbers across Orange County from county data:

Infections | Hospitalizations & Deaths | City-by-City Data | Demographics






Spencer Custodio is a Voice of OC staff reporter. You can reach him at [email protected] Follow him on Twitter @SpencerCustodio

How can I sign up for a vaccine?

For full details on the COVID-19 vaccine in Orange County view our Voice of OC vaccine page that is constantly updated and has links of where to register for an appointment: http://bit.ly/occovidvaccine.

What is COVID-19? Do I have it?

INFORMATION View the CDC website. View OC's website. View the latest OC case counts.

TRANSLATIONS See the county's guides in non-English languages. Learn key Coronavirus facts in Vietnamese and Spanish via VietRise. See VietRISE guides in Spanish and Vietnamese.

PROTECTION To limit exposure, the CDC recommends: wash your hands often, avoid close contact with others, cover your mouth and nose with a cloth mask when around others, cover coughs and sneezes, clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

SYMPTOMS The CDC identifies these key symptoms that can occur any time between 2 and 14 days after exposure: Fever or chills, cough and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches,  headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting or diarrhea. If you suspect Coronavirus, CALL your primary medical provider.

EMERGENCY SYMPTOMS If you display any of the following emergency warning signs, seek immediate medical attention: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse, or bluish lips or face.

RISK The CDC identifies people most at risk for serious illness: Older adults, and people who have serious chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and lung disease.

What is open?

RESIDENTS The County of Orange offers a list of notices and news on what guidance is given for families and persons.

SCHOOLS The latest information for the county is available from the Orange County Board of Education.

STATE GUIDE TO WHAT IS OPEN A full list of statewide guidelines for what is open and what is closed.

SOCIAL DISTANCING Staying away from other people is called "social distancing." The aim is to SLOW the spread of Coronavirus so as to not overwhelm the nation's health care systems and so that people in need can get help. The Washington Post explains: "The spread (of COVID-19) can be slowed, public health professionals say, if people practice "social distancing" by avoiding public spaces and generally limiting their movement."

What support is available?

STRESS & ANXIETY Stress and anxiety can be triggered by the situation and resources are available to help from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and from the American Psychology Association. Concern over this new virus can make children and families anxious, here are tips on talking with children about COVID-19.

MENTAL HEALTH The County of Orange offers a list of available mental health support services.

FIRST RESPONDERS The County of Orange offers these support services for first responders and health care workers.

BUSINESSES & ORGANIZATIONS The County of Orange offers a list of up-to-date guidelines for business and faith-based/community organizations.

FOOD ASSISTANCE Voice of OC offers a weekly list of available food pantries in Orange County. You can also apply for food benefits over the phone through the CalFresh program at 800-281-9799 or online.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Buses and trains still offer service, but routes have been reduced so make sure to check your route ahead of time.

HOMELESSNESS The County of Orange offers a list of available shelter beds and other resources.

GENERAL FINANCIAL HELP Here are some services:

  •   • Find information on unemployment and disability benefits.
  •   • The Orange County Social Services Agency, despite closing its lobby, is processing online filings for assistance programs. This includes emergency cash assistance for immediate needs like rent or medical bills. The phone line has averaged a 30 minute wait time and offers a callback service, but people are encouraged to apply for benefits online.
  •   • Residents can apply for any of these programs by calling 800-281-9799.

RESTAURANT OWNERS & EMPLOYEES You can find a detailed list of resources available to restaurant owners and employees

How can I help?

VOLUNTEERING A statewide guide offers examples of ways to volunteer safely during Coronavirus. Options include, but are not limited to: donating plasma, making cloth face masks and supporting local food banks. Orange County's Second Harvest Food Bank lists support options online.

DONATIONS An Orange County Community Resilience Fund has been started through the OC Community Foundation to raise money for local nonprofits and volunteer organizations.

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