The Department of Public Health and COVID Command Center announced today that, as of this past weekend, 70% of eligible San Francisco Latinx residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. SF will continue to ensure vaccine access with a special focus on neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
“When the COVID-19 pandemic began, we knew that strong community partnerships would be the key to keeping all residents safe and healthy,” said Mayor London Breed. “With low barrier access to vaccines and a strong network of trusted community partners on the ground, we have reached the important milestone of 70 % of the eligible Latino population in San Francisco receiving at least one vaccine dose. As we celebrate this success, let’s remember that COVID is not over. If you know of any family or friends who are not yet vaccinated, please encourage them to do so now. Vaccines are free, safe and will protect you and your entire community.”
San Francisco vaccination rates are among the highest in the nation and the world. SF has achieved this by developing a robust, low-barrier distribution system to facilitate vaccination with a focus on ensuring access in communities that were hardest hit by COVID-19. The vaccine has been offered through a network of high-volume vaccination sites, community access sites, mobile vaccination teams, and pharmacies. Neighborhood sites that serve a large number of Latinx individuals include the Excelsior, Mission, and OMI.
These efforts have paid off; the 70% vaccination rate among Latinx, which translates to over 93,000 individuals, is well above the state and the nation; 28 and 30%, respectively. Citywide, 81% of eligible San Francisco residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine, with 73% of eligible San Franciscans fully vaccinated.
Additionally, the effectiveness and availability of COVID-19 vaccines have dramatically driven down case rates, hospitalizations and community spread in San Francisco. The 7-day average number of new cases in San Francisco declined by 97 % since January; from 372 to 10 as of June 20. Hospitalizations have been at their lowest numbers for the past month since the pandemic began and testing positivity is 0.49 %, down from 5.36% since the last peak in January and 13.46% in April of 2020.
"Thank you to the Latinx community for leading and responding to the call to get vaccinated and stepping up to protect themselves, their families, and their community against COVID-19. While we celebrate this important milestone, we encourage every eligible person in the city to get vaccinated, especially in light of new virus variants hitting our communities," said Dr. Grant Colfax, Director of Public Health.
“In San Francisco, public servants stood behind leaders in the Latinx community to support grassroots vaccine outreach and education efforts. Trusted partners delivered vaccine information and resources in a culturally appropriate and relevant manner to a community that was disproportionately impacted by the virus,” said Mary Ellen Carroll, Executive Director, San Francisco Department of Emergency Management. “Overcoming this challenge was one of the most meaningful of the pandemic. When we lead with community, we ensure greater equity in emergency response. This is a lesson San Francisco will carry with us in future emergencies.”
While San Francisco has seen tremendous progress in its vaccination efforts, SF is laser-focused on ramping up vaccine opportunities in neighborhoods with lower vaccination uptake. SF is working with trusted community partners on low barrier drop-in appointments at health centers and hospitals, going door-to-door, hosting family day events, and providing mobile vaccination drives to serve people with challenges accessing vaccines, all in partnership with the community.
“Just five months ago, our community was battling with some of the worst rates of infection our City had seen. We sprang into action with our UCSF and Department of Public Health partners to roll out lifesaving vaccines. Today, we stand proud and feel more at ease knowing our collective hard work in the face of adversity has paid off. ¡Gracias comunidad. Juntos podemos!,” says Jon Jacobo, Health Committee Chair of the Latino Task Force.
SF has partnered with health providers and community partners to reach this 70% milestone, including UCSF, Latino Task Force, Unidos en Salud, Latino Response and Recovery Workgroup, Roman Catholic Archdioceses- Father Moises Agudo, Mission Parishes, and Mission Neighborhood Health Center.
The Public Health Department encourages all those eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible, so that San Francisco and the entire Bay Area can continue to safely reopen. Appointments and drop-in opportunities are widely available throughout SF, including at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, several health centers and pharmacies; and at Moscone South, where hours have been expanded to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day for drop-in appointments. For additional vaccine information, appointments, and more vaccination sites, please visit: sf.gov/get-vaccinated or call (628) 652-2700.