Santa Barbara County thanks first wave of traveling COVID-19 vaccination nurses

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The quest to vaccinate everyone 16 and older in Santa Barbara County is Public Health officials' priority. They are using a mobile vaccination clinic to try to maximize their reach. Three dozen traveling nurses help staff those mobile clinics.

Saturday at The Hilton Hotel on Santa Barbara’s Waterfront was the last day of service for the first wave of traveling nurses. The nurses are from around the country and included Atlanta, Baltimore, Houston and Lexington, S.C.

Public Health officials said the extra nurses are allowing the county to keep emergency staff at their normal posts. Santa Barbara County firefighters originally helped at the clinic. Now, these travel nurses are helping vaccinate Santa Barbara County.

The second wave of traveling nurses is already in their second week of service in Santa Barbara County. They will be here for six weeks. Next month Public Health officials will decide if more nurses are needed, depending on the vaccination rollout.