Humboldt County residents who are 16 years and older can now get in line for a COVID-19 vaccine, moving them up before the state’s April 15 date for widening eligibility.

Those interested can sign up on the state’s My Turn site.

“We still need more people vaccinated to reduce spread of the virus locally,” Stephens said.

The county release also states that "anyone who develops symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, should get tested and contact a medical provider."

On Tuesday, Humboldt County was moved into the state's "orange," or moderate COVID-19 risk ranking, which allows more business sectors open and expand indoor operations capacity for restaurants, gyms, movie theaters, places of worship and other organizations. (Find out more about what that means here.)

The same day, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state's tiered COVID-19 ranking system was slated to end June 15, with businesses and other activities across the state allowed to reopen to pre-pandemic levels, depending on two main factors: hospitalizations and vaccination supply numbers. Mask mandates will remain in effect for the foreseeable future, he said.

All Humboldt County residents age 16 and over can now sign up for COVID-19 vaccination appointments through My Turn. This includes people with or without medical conditions and from all sectors and occupations.

Residents age 18 and over can go to MyTurn.ca.gov to schedule an appointment. Public Health officials encourage people to sign up quickly for the first appointment available. Hundreds of weekend appointments that were available as of 9 a.m. today filled by noon.

Humboldt County Public Health Director Michele Stephens said, “We are so thankful to those members of our community who waited for their turn, and now it’s here. We encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible, so we can all spend time with friends and loved ones safely and protect those under 16 who can’t yet get vaccinated.”

The only vaccine approved for 16- and 17-year-olds is made by Pfizer. My Turn is not currently designed to screen clinics based on age, so residents must select a Pfizer clinic when registering. The next Pfizer clinic is scheduled for Wednesday, April 14.

Additional requirements for 16- and 17-year-olds to receive COVID-19 vaccination include the following:

• A parent or guardian must accompany the vaccine recipient to the clinic and sign a consent form in person.
• Proof of age is required. Vaccine recipients must be at least 16 years old at the time of vaccination.

Those who are unable to meet these requirements will be turned away from clinic sites.

Sign up today at MyTurn.ca.gov.

Stephens emphasized that prevention measures like masking and avoiding large gatherings should continue following vaccination, adding that, “We still need more people vaccinated to reduce spread of the virus locally.” Anyone who develops symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, should get tested and contact a medical provider.

For the most recent COVID-19 information, visit cdc.gov or cdph.ca.gov. Local information is available at humboldtgov.org or during business hours by contacting [email protected] or calling 707-441-5000.

Some Safeway, CVS Pharmacy, Rite Aid, Walgreen’s and Walmart locations are offering COVID-19 vaccination appointments. Learn who is eligible for vaccination and see if there are appointments available for your age group or sector at one of these locations by clicking on the links below.

Safeway: https://www.mhealthappointments.com/covidappt
CVS Pharmacy: https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine?icid=cvs-home-hero1-link2-coronavirus-vaccine
Rite Aid: https://www.riteaid.com/covid-19
Walgreen’s: https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19
Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/cp/1228302