Carlos Alegre, a long-term care patient at the Birch Patrick Skilled Nursing Facility at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, received the vaccine on Dec. 21, 2020.
What to Know
As part of Phase 1A of the vaccine-rollout plan, frontline health care workers and staff will be the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, followed by long-term care patients and staff. The first patient was vaccinated on Monday
San Diego County received a 28,000-dose supply of the vaccine on the week of Dec. 14; a local military health center received an undisclosed amount of doses
Rady Children's received the Moderna Vaccine on Monday, days after it was approved for emergency use by the FDA and shipped across the country for disribution
Long-term care patients in San Diego County were expected to start receiving the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, advancing the region's efforts to immunize the most vulnerable patients first from the novel coronavirus.
Surrounded by more than a dozen Sharp HealthCare caregivers, 72-year-old Carlos Alegre on Monday became what is believed to be the first patient in San Diego County to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
Because Alegre is a long-term care patient at Birch Patrick Skilled Nursing Facility at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, he is among those considered top priority for immunization, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
Alegre, who has been a patient at the facility for about a year-and-a-half, sat calmly as he received his shot and as cheers erupted behind him from the people he fondly called "his family."
"They asked me if I wanted it, I said 'Sure, no problem," Alegre said about being the first to receive the vaccine. "The only problem is they wake up me very early to take a shower, put on clothes... But they gave me new shoes, so that's good."
San Diego County received 28,000 doses of the vaccine last week. So far, medical centers have prioritized front-line health care workers who are most at risk of being exposed to COVID-19. But long-term care residents and staff are also included in the Centers for Disease Control's highest-priority group.
Other members of the Birch Patrick Skilled Nursing Facility and some patients at Sharp's Villa Coronado will also be vaccinated on Monday.
Moderna's COVID-19 Vaccine Arrives in San Diego County
Moderna's coronavirus vaccine arrived in San Diego on Dec. 21, 2020.
San Diego County received on Monday its first delivery of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the second COVID-19 vaccine to be approved by the Federal Drug Administration.
The county received 20,000 doses in its first batch but was expected to get an additional 23,700 doses in Moderna's first round of shipments.
Some local health care systems had the vaccine shipped directly to them. On Monday, Rady Children's Hospital was one of the first in the county to announce they had received a shipment of the latest vaccine on Monday.
The vaccine began to ship across the country over the weekend, following the FDA approval. Since the vaccine does not need to be stored at extremely low temperatures, like Pfizer's vaccine does, it will be distributed to more rural areas, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said.
Newsom said on Monday the state would receive 672,600 doses by the end of the week to be distributed to a total of 31 locations. It has reached 21 locations, so far.
Meanwhile, California was awaiting another 233,025 Pfizer doses this week.
Rady Children's Hospital on Monday received its second shipment of the Pfizer vaccine as well. The hospital said that with both the Pfizer and Moderna shipments, they were able to start scheduling vaccinations for their next wave of staff.
"This latest shipment is another big step forward, allowing us complete our highest risk staff and to begin offering the vaccine to those in our high risk categories," the hospital said in a statement.
Both vaccines are close to 95% effective and require two doses over a period of several weeks. The Pfizer vaccine is given 21 days apart and the Moderna vaccine is given 28 days apart.
NBC 7 San Diego
One of the vaccine super stations in San Diego County.
Sandy Huffaker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A volunteer, or “promotora,” distributes pamphlets to people at a charity food drive in San Diego, California, U.S., on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. Local health officials are doing everything they can to get shots to day workers, part of a much larger effort to vaccinate San Diego’s Latino population. Photographer: Sandy Huffaker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
San Diego Fire-Rescue
A member of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department injecting a patient with the coronavirus vaccine.
Joe Little, NBC 7
UC San Diego Health set up a mobile vaccination unit outside the Jensen Meat Company in Otay Mesa.
Joe Little, NBC 7
People wait in the shade for their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine at the Petco Park Super Station.
NBC 7
Members of the Catholic Diocese of San Diego receive their COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday, March, 4, 2021.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Department
The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department is helping to administer coronavirus vaccines in San Diego County through a site at the Balboa Municipal Gym inside Balboa Park. On Feb. 16 through Feb. 18, the SDFD will offer vaccinations for those age 65 and older, with eligibility verification and by appointment only. The SDFD said it had some extra doses of the vaccine available and wanted to get it to as many eligible San Diegans as possible. On Feb. 18, the vaccinations via the SDFD will happen at the Malcolm X Library on Market Street.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Department
The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department is helping to administer coronavirus vaccines in San Diego County through a site at the Balboa Municipal Gym inside Balboa Park. On Feb. 16 through Feb. 18, the SDFD will offer vaccinations for those age 65 and older, with eligibility verification and by appointment only. The SDFD said it had some extra doses of the vaccine available and wanted to get it to as many eligible San Diegans as possible. On Feb. 18, the vaccinations via the SDFD will happen at the Malcolm X Library on Market Street.
Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Signage for a Covid-19 vaccination site run by UC San Diego Health on the University of California San Diego (UCSD) campus in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, U.S., on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. UCSD is staging courses outdoors in open-sided tents and plans to have 12 tents on campus by the end of January. Photographer: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Sandy Huffaker/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
California Governor Gavin Newsom (back) listens as San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria speaks to members of the media during a press conference at Petco Park, February 8, 2021 in San Diego, California, during a visit to the Petco Park Vaccination Supersite. – The Petco Park Vaccination Supersite, which is hosted in a parking lot next to the ballpark, is a partnership between San Diego County, the San Diego Padres baseball team and UC San Diego Health and has capacity to dole out about 5,000 COVID-19 vaccines per day. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker / POOL / AFP) (Photo by SANDY HUFFAKER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Sandy Huffaker/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
California Governor Gavin Newsom (C) bumps elbows with San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria after a press conference at Petco Park, February 8, 2021 in San Diego, California, during a visit to the Petco Park Vaccination Supersite. – The Petco Park Vaccination Supersite, which is hosted in a parking lot next to the ballpark, is a partnership between San Diego County, the San Diego Padres baseball team and UC San Diego Health and has capacity to dole out about 5,000 COVID-19 vaccines per day. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker / POOL / AFP) (Photo by SANDY HUFFAKER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Sandy Huffaker/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
California Governor Gavin Newsom (back) listens as San Diego County’s Public Health Officer Dr. Wilma Wooten speaks to members of the media during a press conference at Petco Park, February 8, 2021 in San Diego, California, during a visit to the Petco Park Vaccination Supersite. – The Petco Park Vaccination Supersite, which is hosted in a parking lot next to the ballpark, is a partnership between San Diego County, the San Diego Padres baseball team and UC San Diego Health and has capacity to dole out about 5,000 COVID-19 vaccines per day. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker / POOL / AFP) (Photo by SANDY HUFFAKER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Sandy Huffaker/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
California Governor Gavin Newsom looks on before speaking to members of the media during a press conference at Petco Park, February 8, 2021 in San Diego, California, during a visit to the Petco Park Vaccination Supersite. – The Petco Park Vaccination Supersite, which is hosted in a parking lot next to the ballpark, is a partnership between San Diego County, the San Diego Padres baseball team and UC San Diego Health and has capacity to dole out about 5,000 COVID-19 vaccines per day. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker / POOL / AFP) (Photo by SANDY HUFFAKER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Sandy Huffaker/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks with Supervisor Nathan Fletcher after a press conference at Petco Park, February 8, 2021 in San Diego, California, during a visit to the Petco Park Vaccination Supersite. – The Petco Park Vaccination Supersite, which is hosted in a parking lot next to the ballpark, is a partnership between San Diego County, the San Diego Padres baseball team and UC San Diego Health and has capacity to dole out about 5,000 COVID-19 vaccines per day. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker / POOL / AFP) (Photo by SANDY HUFFAKER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Cal Fire/San Diego County Fire/Facebook
Cal Fire/San Diego County Fire helped vaccinate residents of Borrego Springs on Jan. 30, 2021, who met the coronavirus vaccination eligibility requirements. “There is a need to vaccinate our community’s rural populations,” the agency posted on Facebook. “Our local Fire and EMS agencies in SD County will continue working side-by-side providing vaccinations to our rural communities, in an effort known as Operation Collaboration.”
Cal Fire/San Diego County Fire/Facebook
Cal Fire/San Diego County Fire helped vaccinate residents of Borrego Springs on Jan. 30, 2021, who met the coronavirus vaccination eligibility requirements. “There is a need to vaccinate our community’s rural populations,” the agency posted on Facebook. “Our local Fire and EMS agencies in SD County will continue working side-by-side providing vaccinations to our rural communities, in an effort known as Operation Collaboration.”
NBC 7
The County opened the region’s third Vaccination Super Station on Jan. 31, 2021 at the California State University San Marcos Sports Center.
NBC 7
The County opened the region’s third Vaccination Super Station on Jan. 31, 2021 at the California State University San Marcos Sports Center.
NBC 7
The County opened the region’s third Vaccination Super Station on Jan. 31, 2021 at the California State University San Marcos Sports Center.
NBC 7
The County opened the region’s third Vaccination Super Station on Jan. 31, 2021 at the California State University San Marcos Sports Center.
People in the Phase 1B priority group wait in line to receive doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine at a mass vaccination super site operated by Sharp HealthCare inside a former Sears store in Chula Vista, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. California and other large states are loosening Covid restrictions just as scientists warn that more-contagious variants of the virus are beginning to take hold in the U.S. and the vaccine rollout struggles. Photographer: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
People wearing protective masks leave after receiving doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine at a mass vaccination super site operated by Sharp HealthCare inside a former Sears store in Chula Vista, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. California and other large states are loosening Covid restrictions just as scientists warn that more-contagious variants of the virus are beginning to take hold in the U.S. and the vaccine rollout struggles. Photographer: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
People in the Phase 1B priority group wait in a monitoring area after receiving doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine at a mass vaccination super site operated by Sharp HealthCare inside a former Sears store in Chula Vista, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. California and other large states are loosening Covid restrictions just as scientists warn that more-contagious variants of the virus are beginning to take hold in the U.S. and the vaccine rollout struggles. Photographer: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
People in the Phase 1B priority group wait in line to receive doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine at a mass vaccination super site operated by Sharp HealthCare inside a former Sears store in Chula Vista, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. California and other large states are loosening Covid restrictions just as scientists warn that more-contagious variants of the virus are beginning to take hold in the U.S. and the vaccine rollout struggles. Photographer: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Unused vaccination stations at a mass vaccination super site operated by Sharp HealthCare inside a former Sears store in Chula Vista, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. California and other large states are loosening Covid restrictions just as scientists warn that more-contagious variants of the virus are beginning to take hold in the U.S. and the vaccine rollout struggles. Photographer: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Vials of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine at a mass vaccination super site operated by Sharp HealthCare inside a former Sears store in Chula Vista, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. California and other large states are loosening Covid restrictions just as scientists warn that more-contagious variants of the virus are beginning to take hold in the U.S. and the vaccine rollout struggles. Photographer: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
NBC 7
The downtown vaccination super station during a winter storm on Jan. 25, 2021.
Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images
SAN DIEGO, CA – JANUARY 11: Healthcare workers wait to receive their COVID-19 vaccine in the tailgate lot of PETCO Park on January 11, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)
Getty
Healthcare workers wait in their vehicles at a drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination site operated by UC San Diego Health near Petco Park in San Diego, California, U.S., on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021.
Lakeside Fire Protection District/Facebook
On Jan. 17, 2021, the Lakeside Fire Protection District posted this photo on Facebook showing Lakeside firefighters administering coronavirus vaccinations in the community. The agency said it is working with Santee Fire, San Miguel Fire, and Cal Fire as part of a project called “Operation Collaboration,” described as “an effort to vaccinate residents in longterm care facilities throughout the county.” As of Jan 17, the Lakeside Fire Protection District said the operation had vaccinated nearly 1,000 residents, with more vaccinations planned for the following weeks.
Lakeside Fire Protection District/Facebook
On Jan. 17, 2021, the Lakeside Fire Protection District posted this photo on Facebook showing Lakeside firefighters administering coronavirus vaccinations in the community. The agency said it is working with Santee Fire, San Miguel Fire, and Cal Fire as part of a project called “Operation Collaboration,” described as “an effort to vaccinate residents in longterm care facilities throughout the county.” As of Jan 17, the Lakeside Fire Protection District said the operation had vaccinated nearly 1,000 residents, with more vaccinations planned for the following weeks.
Lakeside Fire Protection District/Facebook
On Jan. 17, 2021, the Lakeside Fire Protection District posted this photo on Facebook showing Lakeside firefighters administering coronavirus vaccinations in the community. The agency said it is working with Santee Fire, San Miguel Fire, and Cal Fire as part of a project called “Operation Collaboration,” described as “an effort to vaccinate residents in longterm care facilities throughout the county.” As of Jan 17, the Lakeside Fire Protection District said the operation had vaccinated nearly 1,000 residents, with more vaccinations planned for the following weeks.
Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images
SAN DIEGO, CA – JANUARY 11: Healthcare workers wait to receive their COVID-19 vaccine in the tailgate lot of PETCO Park on January 11, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)
Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images
SAN DIEGO, CA – JANUARY 11: A healthcare worker prepares to administer the COVID-19 vaccine in the tailgate lot of PETCO Park on January 11, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)
Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A healthcare worker uses a portable workstation at a drive-thru Covid-19 vaccination site operated by UC San Diego Health near Petco Park in San Diego, California, U.S., on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. California, where the latest surge in the virus has filled hospitals and morgues, reported its worst day for fatalities so far. Photographer: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Healthcare workers use portable workstations at a drive-thru Covid-19 vaccination site operated by UC San Diego Health near Petco Park in San Diego, California, U.S., on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. California, where the latest surge in the virus has filled hospitals and morgues, reported its worst day for fatalities so far. Photographer: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
NBC 7
Veterans vaccinated in South Bay San Diego County.
Sharp Healthcare
A San Diego Police Department Sergeant receives the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the Sharp Memorial Hospital Vaccination Clinic.
UC San Diego Health
UC San Diego Health
UC San Diego Health
Mario Tama/Getty Images
CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 21: Long-term care patient Carlos Alegre receives a Band-Aid after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from licensed vocational nurse Virgie Vivar at Birch Patrick Skilled Nursing Facility at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center on December 21, 2020 in Chula Vista, California. 72-year-old Alegre is the first patient to receive the vaccine in San Diego County. Long-term care patients and frontline workers are among those in the CDC’s highest priority group for vaccination. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Mario Tama/Getty Images)
CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 21: Long-term care patient Carlos Alegre smiles after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Birch Patrick Skilled Nursing Facility at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center on December 21, 2020 in Chula Vista, California. 72-year-old Alegre is the first patient to receive the vaccine in San Diego County. Long-term care patients and frontline healthcare workers are among those in the CDC’s highest priority group for vaccination. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Mario Tama/Getty Images)
CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 21: Long-term care patient Carlos Alegre receives the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Birch Patrick Skilled Nursing Facility at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center on December 21, 2020 in Chula Vista, California. 72-year-old Alegre is the first patient to receive the vaccine in San Diego County. Long-term care patients and frontline healthcare workers are among those in the CDC’s highest priority group for vaccination. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Mario Tama/Getty Images)
CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 21: Sharp HealthCare caregivers gather to watch before long-term care patient Carlos Alegre receives the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Birch Patrick Skilled Nursing Facility at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center on December 21, 2020 in Chula Vista, California. 72-year-old Alegre is the first patient to receive the vaccine in San Diego County. Long-term care patients and frontline healthcare workers are among those in the CDC’s highest priority group for vaccination. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Mario Tama/Getty Images)
CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 21: Respiratory therapist Andrew Hoyt cares for a COVID-19 patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, with the word ‘Merry’ posted on the window a few days before Christmas, on December 21, 2020 in Chula Vista, California. According to state figures, Southern California currently has 0 percent of its ICU (Intensive Care Unit) bed capacity remaining amid a spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Rady Children's Hospital
A health care worker at Rady Children’s Hospital stores the Moderna vaccine in a refrigerator. The hospital announced Monday that it received its first batch of Moderna’s vaccine.
NBC 7
Carlos Alegre, a long-term care patient at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, was believed to be the first patient in San Diego County to receive Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 21, 2020.
Brianna Salas was among the first frontline health care workers to receive the Pfizer/BioNtech coronavirus vaccine at UC San Diego Health on Dec. 16, 2020.
UC San Diego Health
Anna Cabral was among the first frontline health care workers to receive the Pfizer/BioNtech coronavirus vaccine at UC San Diego Health on Dec. 16, 2020.
A team helps distribute the Pfizer/BioNtech coronavirus vaccine at UC San Diego Health on Dec. 16, 2020.
Frontline health care workers receive the Pfizer/BioNtech coronavirus vaccine at UC San Diego Health on Dec. 16, 2020.
Kaiser Permanente San Diego/Twitter
NBC 7
Brittanee Randle, 27, an emergency room nurse at Rady Children’s Hospital, was the first person in San Diego County, non-military, to receive Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Getty Images
Vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, top left, sodium chloride, syringes and alcohol wipes at Naval Medical Center San Diego in San Diego, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. The first Covid-19 vaccine shots were administered by U.S. hospitals Monday, the initial step in a historic drive to immunize millions of people as deaths surpassed the 300,000 mark. Photographer: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
An AcuTemp AX56L mobile refrigerator/freezer unit containing doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at Naval Medical Center San Diego in San Diego, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. The first Covid-19 vaccine shots were administered by U.S. hospitals Monday, the initial step in a historic drive to immunize millions of people as deaths surpassed the 300,000 mark. Photographer: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A member of the U.S. Navy prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at Naval Medical Center San Diego in San Diego, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. The first Covid-19 vaccine shots were administered by U.S. hospitals Monday, the initial step in a historic drive to immunize millions of people as deaths surpassed the 300,000 mark. Photographer: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
U.S. Navy personnel prepares doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at Naval Medical Center San Diego in San Diego, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. The first Covid-19 vaccine shots were administered by U.S. hospitals Monday, the initial step in a historic drive to immunize millions of people as deaths surpassed the 300,000 mark. Photographer: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A healthcare worker receives the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at Naval Medical Center San Diego in San Diego, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. The first Covid-19 vaccine shots were administered by U.S. hospitals Monday, the initial step in a historic drive to immunize millions of people as deaths surpassed the 300,000 mark. Photographer: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Getty Images
A healthcare worker gets ready to get the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine shot at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, California on December 15, 2020. (Photo by ARIANA DREHSLER / AFP) (Photo by ARIANA DREHSLER/AFP via Getty Images)
Getty Images
Rachel Marrs (L) gives the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine shot to Michelle Gaano a Registered Nurse at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, California on December 15, 2020. (Photo by ARIANA DREHSLER / AFP) (Photo by ARIANA DREHSLER/AFP via Getty Images)
Getty Images
Occupational Health Nurse Maureen Finnegan (L) gives Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine shot to Medical Director of Infectious Diseases, Dr. John Bradley at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, California on December 15, 2020. (Photo by ARIANA DREHSLER / AFP) (Photo by ARIANA DREHSLER/AFP via Getty Images)
Getty Images
Occupational Health Nurse Maureen Finnegan (L) gives Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine shot to Dr. Heather Pierce a Pediatric hospitalist at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, California on December 15, 2020. (Photo by ARIANA DREHSLER / AFP) (Photo by ARIANA DREHSLER/AFP via Getty Images)
Getty Images
Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine is pictured at Rady Children’s Hospital before it’s placed back in the refrigerator in San Diego, California on December 15, 2020. (Photo by ARIANA DREHSLER / AFP) (Photo by ARIANA DREHSLER/AFP via Getty Images)
Getty Images
Pharmacist Manager Ron D’Ulisse opens the refrigerator currently used to store Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, California on December 15, 2020. (Photo by ARIANA DREHSLER / AFP) (Photo by ARIANA DREHSLER/AFP via Getty Images)
Getty Images
Pharmacy Technician Kevin Ros (R) prepares Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine before it is administered to healthcare workers at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, California on December 15, 2020. (Photo by ARIANA DREHSLER / AFP) (Photo by ARIANA DREHSLER/AFP via Getty Images)
Getty Images
Pharmacist Manager Ron D’Ulisse speaks to Occupational Health Nurse Maureen Finnegan before she administers Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine to frontline medical workers at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, California on December 15, 2020. (Photo by ARIANA DREHSLER / AFP) (Photo by ARIANA DREHSLER/AFP via Getty Images)
Pharmacy Technician Kevin Ros (R) prepares Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine before it is administered to healthcare workers at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, California on December 15, 2020. (Photo by ARIANA DREHSLER / AFP) (Photo by ARIANA DREHSLER/AFP via Getty Images)
COVID-19 vaccine at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego
COVID-19 vaccine at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.
UC San Diego Health
UC San Diego Health took a screengrab of the exact moment -- 7:14 a.m. on Dec. 15, 2020 -- when the facility received it's first batch of the coronavirus vaccine.
UC San Diego Health
UC San Diego Health was among some of the first facilities in San Diego County to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Dec. 15, 2020.
UC San Diego Health
UC San Diego Health was among some of the first facilities in San Diego County to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Dec. 15, 2020.
UC San Diego Health
UC San Diego Health was among some of the first facilities in San Diego County to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Dec. 15, 2020.
UC San Diego Health
UC San Diego Health was among some of the first facilities in San Diego County to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Dec. 15, 2020.
UC San Diego Health
UC San Diego Health was among some of the first facilities in San Diego County to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Dec. 15, 2020.
UC San Diego Health
UC San Diego Health received its first order of the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Dec. 15, 2020.
UC San Diego Health
UC San Diego Health was among some of the first facilities in San Diego County to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Dec. 15, 2020.
UC San Diego Health
UC San Diego Health was among some of the first facilities in San Diego County to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Dec. 15, 2020.
UC San Diego Health
UC San Diego Health was among some of the first facilities in San Diego County to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Dec. 15, 2020.
NBC 7
Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego received the coronavirus vaccine on Dec. 14, 2020. The facility was chosen as a storage site for the vaccine because it is equipped with large capacity sub-zero freezers perfect for storing the medicine.
Frontline health care workers receive the Pfizer/BioNtech coronavirus vaccine at UC San Diego Health on Dec. 16, 2020.
Amy Markley was among the first frontline health care workers to receive the Pfizer/BioNtech coronavirus vaccine at UC San Diego Health on Dec. 16, 2020.
San Diego County
Timeline: Vaccine Rollout in San Diego County
Almost immediately after the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was approved in the United States, doses were shipped to large cities across the country. San Diego County received its first batch on Monday, Dec. 14, and was expected to have 28,000 doses for distribution by the time the week was over. The Department of Defense also shipped separate batches of the vaccine to Naval Medical Center San Diego (which also gave doses to Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton) in order to protect critical military health care workers.
The first nonmilitary San Diego County resident to receive the vaccine was emergency room nurse Britanee Randle, 27, who's worked at Rady Children's Hospital for two years.
"It was great!" Randle said. "The person administering it was awesome. I'm actually afraid of needles, and I didn't even feel it."
NBC 7's Bridget Naso has more on how the first COVID-19 vaccines were used in San Diego.
Among San Diego's military community, Lt. Catherine Senoyuit was the first to receive a coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at Naval Medical Center San Diego.
On Wednesday, Dec. 16 four more medical facilities in San Diego County began administering the coronavirus vaccine: UC San Diego Health; Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton (given doses from Naval Medical Center San Diego); Kaiser Permanente Zion Medical Center in Grantville; and Palomar Health.
“This vaccine means a lot. I know it may seem scary, but it’s for the benefit of everyone,” said Merope Duffin, Emergency Department nurse at @KPSanDiego. “It’s been a very long and challenging year in the ER, and this vaccine means seeing an end to the pandemic." #COVIDvaccinepic.twitter.com/8lDJJAeUHL
Palomar Health said it plans, within six weeks, to provide all staff who agree to take the vaccine's two doses. Their first recipient was respiratory therapist Jon Hammer, also vaccinated on Wednesday, Dec. 16.
Jon Hammer, respiratory therapist, was Palomar Health's first employee to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 16, 2020.
Scripps said it would administer the new vaccine “based strictly on federal, state and county guidelines, focusing first on health care workers who are at greatest risk and then moving to subsequent tiers based on the same criteria.”
Keith Darce of Scripps Health said on Thursday, Dec. 17 that the facility had received 72% of the doses it had requested for Tier 1 vaccination.
Meanwhile, Kaiser Permanente said it planned to roll out coronavirus vaccinations Thursday, Dec. 17 at its Kearny Mesa location.
The Dec. 17’s batch given at Kaiser Permanente was part of the medical facility’s initial 525-dose allocation it had received from the county’s 28,000 doses this week.
San Diego's Vaccine Plan: Which Communities Will Get It First?
Administering the vaccine to the public will be a three-phase process in which health care workers and long-term care workers and residents will be given priority, followed by essential workers, then adults who are over the age of 65 or who have medical conditions.
The 28,000 doses delivered around San Diego last week will be used to vaccinate 72% of the nearly 40,000 people “working in acute care, psychiatric and correctional facility hospitals and are at highest risk of contracting COVID-19.”
“We first have to vaccinate our acute health care personnel who are at highest risk,” said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer. “After everyone in that group has gotten their first dose, we will move into our next priority group.”
Residents and employees of skilled nursing facilities are also part of the county’s first-priority group.
The 28,000 recipients in the initial group will get their second dose when more Pfizer vaccine arrives in the region, the county added.
After this first group is vaccinated, additional doses will arrive in San Diego County, and those doses will be used to immunize more acute health care workers.
In Phase 2 of the vaccine roll out, critical workers not included in Phase 1 will be eligible for the vaccine, as well as children and young adults under the age of 30. Phase 3 includes everyone else in the U.S.
The coronavirus vaccine is expected to be available to the general public in the spring of 2021, the San Diego County Communications Office said.
When that happens, the vaccine should be available via health care providers, local pharmacies, community clinics or county vaccination sites.
Side-effects of the Pfizer vaccine may include swelling, fatigue, irritation, pain or a headache. Some patients who have taken the vaccine reported chills and low-grade fever, according to former FDA chief Dr. Margaret Hamburg.
Vaccine doses bought with U.S. taxpayer dollars will be free to Americans, according to the CDC. However, vaccination providers could charge an administration fee if they chose.
Both the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines were developed using mRNA—short for messenger RNA— technology. Here is how they work.
