82% percent of Sonoma at least partially vaccinated

Eighty-two percent of Sonoma residents age 12 and up have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine, according to the most recent county health statistics. And 75% of those eligible are fully vaccinated.

The county is tracking vaccinations by ZIP code, allowing health officials to break down rates by location. The 82% rate for Sonoma Valley’s 95476 ZIP code - which on the county’s map includes Schellville through the city and creeps up to include the Springs’ 95416 ZIP - is 12th highest among the 32 county ZIP codes health officials are monitoring.

Rates begin to vary in the northern areas of Glen Ellen and Kenwood. In the 95442 ZIP code, which encompasses Glen Ellen, 60% of the community has received at least one dose, and 55% are fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, in the 95452 ZIP code encompassing the area of Kenwood, 95% of eligible residents have received at least one dose, and 87% are fully vaccinated.

Vaccination rates have been in the spotlight in recent weeks, as people without a COVID-19 inoculation are proving far more vulnerable to the emerging delta variant. Unvaccinated people currently account for more than 97% of COVID hospitalizations across the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Lower vaccination rates for young adults

Sonoma County’s six hospitals are seeing an average of more than 40 COVID patients a day, county officials announced Tuesday in a press update on the health crisis. Of those patients, 83% are unvaccinated. Of the COVID patients in intensive care, 100% are unvaccinated. On July 27, the county reported 151 new cases in one day, numbers likely bolstered by an ongoing outbreak at the Samuel L. Jones Hall homeless shelter in Santa Rosa.

Sonoma Valley Hospital has seen two inpatient COVID cases in the past 30 days, according to hospital spokesperson Celia Kruse De La Rosa. She could not confirm whether or not the two patients had been vaccinated.

County Vaccine Chief Dr. Urmila Shende told the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors at its July 27 meeting that health officials “plan to continue to encourage vaccinations until we get to a higher goal level of herd immunity.”

A primary factor in new cases is a lower-rate of vaccinations among younger adults, with unvaccinated residents ages 16 to 34 accounting for most of the new cases in Sonoma County. More than 33% of county residents ages 16 to 34 have not received a dose of the vaccine, according to the county. In May the CDC approved the vaccine for children as young as 12, but to date only 47% of 12 to 15 year olds have been vaccinated.

How Sonoma compares

Sonoma’s vaccination rate is ahead of the overall rate of the county, which reported Tuesday that 70% of county residents are now fully vaccinated. Another 8% of eligible county residents have received a single dose of vaccine, County Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase said Tuesday in her COVID update.

Statewide, 62% of residents are vaccinated while an additional 9% are partially vaccinated. Nationwide, about 56% of those ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated.

As of July 27, Sonoma County has had 329 deaths to COVID-19, and 30,829 recoveries.

Meanwhile, state officials are considering recent guidance from the CDC which recommends that even those fully vaccinated should return to wearing masks in indoor public settings.

The Sonoma Valley Community Health Center is hosting vaccination clinics on July 31 and Aug. 7 beginning at noon, and on Aug. 4 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., at 19270 Sonoma Highway. Vaccines are free and walk-ins are welcome. Visit svhpvaccines.org or call 939-6071 to make an appointment.

For updated county vaccination-rate and COVID-19 statistics, visit socoemergency.org.

Email Jason at jason.walsh@sonomanews.com.