San Bernardino County Supervisor Dawn Rowe joined the Twentynine Palms Rotary Club online Wednesday to help make some sense out the disarray around Covid-19 vaccinations. Rowe said the county is trying to keep up with the State of California, calling it “The state of confusion,” who she says is “changing things constantly.” As an example, she said the state never gave counties any warning before announcing residents over 65 could get the vaccine; because the county had no warning, it was not prepared, and subsequently, the county’s Covid-19 website crashed under the high volume.
Rowe said the county has three vaccination sites: in San Bernardino, Ontario, and Hesperia at this time and at some county hospitals, although not at Hi-Desert Medical Center.
In the Morongo Basin, vaccinations by appointment only are available at the Rite Aid pharmacies in Twentynine Palms and Yucca Valley, and the Yucca Valley Vons. Because of high volume, it is difficult to obtain an appointment. Rowe said there will be a mass immunization mobile vaccination site coming, most likely in Yucca Valley.
As far as coronavirus restrictions, she said, “I think we have peaked” and expects to see more businesses gradually reopening. She said the county is not actively enforcing Covid-19 restrictions and mask requirements, choosing “education over enforcement.” Rowe said the state is doing the enforcement through licensing agencies such as the Alcoholic Beverage Board and hair and nail salon permits.
The county is spending $20 million a month on testing, Rowe said, but will be shifting that budget priority to vaccinations. Because of the ability of viruses to mutate, she said it is expected that Covid-19 vaccinations will become a yearly routine, just like the flu is now.
