Covid19 Information for Seniors

covid-19 vaccine information

Contra Costa Health Services is working closely with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to fairly distribute a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine to everyone in our community.

Vaccine appointment Guide:

https://www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/appointment-guide

Who is Eligible Now? Vaccine Eligibility

Vaccinations Now Available to Those 16+

Beginning on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, Contra Costa Health Services has announced that COVID-19 vaccines will be available to anyone who is 16 years or older who lives or works in the county, regardless of whether they have an underlying health condition.

The continued expansion of eligibility comes as Contra Costa County has received additional vaccine supplies from the federal government, in addition to what it already receives from the State of California.

According to Contra Costa Health Services, appointments for people age 16+ are only available through CCHS and can’t be booked using the State’s MyTurn portal at this time. Register by calling 1-833-829-2626 or online: bit.ly/cchsvax. It may take several days to get an appointment and long delays are likely on the appointment request phone line. We ask everyone’s patience as we work to get the appointments made.

More information can also be found at: https://www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/vaccine

If you are currently eligible please click on this link to make an appointment: CCHealth Vaccine Appointment Request Form

VACCINE APPOINTMENT HOTLINE

The number for the line is 1-833-VAX-COCO (1-833-829-2926. The phone line is intended to assist those who are unable to schedule vaccine appointments online. The phone line is available Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Those eligible for the vaccine are encouraged to continue using the online form and only use the phone line if they do not have access to the internet or are having difficulty with the form.

The State of California has launched a pilot program called MyTurn that allows residents to sign up to be notified when they are eligible for a vaccine, and to schedule an appointment when they become eligible.

Sign Up for Vaccine Notifications at myturn.ca.gov

The vaccine will be in short supply initially and it will take months before it’s widely available. Healthcare workers and nursing home staff and residents will be the first vaccinated, followed by other frontline workers, first responders, and high-risk populations. Supplies will increase over time, and all persons 16 years and older are estimated to be able to receive the vaccine by the second half of 2021.

For the most up-to-date information about vaccine distribution phases, please visit: https://www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/vaccine

avoid Covid-19 vaccine scams

three ways to avoid covid-19 scams

While vaccination details are getting worked out, here's what you can be sure of:

You can't pay to put your name on a list to get the vaccine. That's a scam.
You can't pay to get early access to the vaccine. That's a scam.
Nobody legit will call about the vaccine and ask for your social security, bank account, or credit card number. That's a scam.

Ignore any vaccine offers that say different, or ask for personal or financial information.

Learn more at:

Beware of Ongoing Scams

Police throughout the Tri-Valley have been getting calls from residents about various scams going on. Many of these scams target seniors.

Some of these include:

1. Contacting victims and offering a ‘special coronavirus test.’ Some charge a fee, while others seek personal information such as social security number or medicare ID.

2. In a similar vein, scammers are attempting to ‘sell’ reservations for a coronavirus vaccine.

3. Victims are reporting getting emails or texts from services such as Netflix or Amazon stating that they have made a purchase and should click on a link to cancel the order.

These are only a few that have been reported. The main takeaways are that no agency will be requiring social security numbers or Medicaid numbers to provide service. Additionally, no legitimate service would be soliciting for reservations for the vaccine. If it seems off or sketchy, do not follow through. Contact the police and ask questions.

TRUSTED RESOURCES

The California Department on Aging encourages seniors to reach out to 5 trusted friends or family members during this Pandemic. Friends and family can help seniors obtain essential items such as medication and food.

During this time seniors are encouraged to go to trusted resources for information on the virus including:

California State Website about COVID-19 Covid19.ca.gov
Contra Costa County Health Services https://cchealth.org/
California Department on Aging https://www.aging.ca.gov/
Town of Danville Website http://www.danville.ca.gov

OTHER SENIOR RESOURCES

Phone Resource Guide for Seniors (PDF)

Contra Costa County Aging and Adult Services Information & Assistance

The Information & Assistance (I&A) helpline is a program of Contra Costa County’s Employment & Human Services Department. Seniors, adults with disabilities, and caregivers may call I&A to speak with knowledgeable social workers to get information, referrals to other services, and assistance with solving problems. I&A Social Workers will listen to your needs, and provide information and referrals to community services that may be able to assist you.

https://ehsd.org/elderly-disabled/information-assistance/

(925) 284-6109

COUNSELING SUPPORT FOR SENIORS

Discovery Counseling Center of San Ramon Valley

Counseling, Intervention and Support For Seniors

(925) 837-0505

Older Adult Mental Health

(925) 521-5620

www.cchealth.org/mentalhealth

MEAL ASSISTANCE

Meals on Wheels

https://www.mowdiabloregion.org/

(925) 937-8607

Meals on Wheels West Contra Costa Region is providing resources to CalFresh to provide application assistance to interested people.

CalFresh is the California implementation of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the Food Stamp program, which provides financial assistance for purchasing food to low-income California residents.

For information on applying for a CalFresh EBT card to buy food at participating grocery stores and Farmers’ Markets, fill out the Contact form.

Contra Costa County Health Services Food Assistance for Seniors

https://www.foodbankccs.org/get-help/foodbycity.html

(925) 676-7543