Four Santa Barbara County zip codes on state’s COVID-19 vaccine priority list
SANTA MARIA, Calif. – The state set aside 40% of COVID-19 vaccine doses for underserved neighborhoods in California. Four communities in Santa Barbara County are on that list.
"Those zip codes are 93254, 93458, 93437, and 93434," said Santa Barbara County Public Health Director Dr. Van Do-Reynoso. "These zip codes essentially cover Santa Maria, Vandenberg Village/Lompoc, as well as Guadalupe as well as Cuyama."
A 400-plus zip code priority list was made by the state, and those on the list were considered to be underserved communities disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to public health, this is determined based on health, income, education and air pollution status.
"There's a variety of contributing factors to determine health of the zip codes of the census tract," said Do-Reynoso. "The Governor's office looked at the zip codes and divided into four quarters, with the first quarter having the poorest health outcomes and the fourth quarter having the best health outcomes."
The four zip codes in Santa Barbara County are under the first quarter — the poorest.
"It is tied to lower income. It is tied to census tract that have more challenges with regards to housing, with regards to air pollution, with regards to safe neighborhoods," said Dr. Do-Reynoso.
The public health department said staff members have been ahead of the game assisting the four neighborhoods with COVID-19 vaccine doses.
"Santa Barbara County Public Health has worked continuously with our community partners to ensure that the opportunity and availability is there," said Do-Reynoso.
