Vaccine Availability Varies Throughout San Diego

Photo by Melissa Mae

Above: Border View YMCA is shown in this photograph. April, 12, 2021. It is open for zip code restricted, first come, first served, no appointment COVID-19 vaccines in Chula Vista on Monday, April 12th and Tuesday April 13, 2021.

COVID-19 vaccine availability is still inconsistent throughout San Diego County. While smaller clinics are providing vaccines, the Del Mar Fairgrounds Super Station faces more closures due to short supply.

On Sunday, the County tweeted out that there would be two opportunities to get the vaccine without an appointment early this week, at the Border View YMCA Monday and Tuesday, and also at the Mountain View Educational Cultural Complex on Tuesday.

Plenty of people were lined up at the YMCA site Monday morning. Chula Vista resident John McNulty said he’d had a challenging time getting a vaccine.

“I’ve been going to places like CVS. They said I was all set up, and I went back to check with them and said I’m not qualified, so there seems to be a mix up in paperwork. There’s a lot of confusion,” said Mcnulty.

National City resident Mike Quichocho said he thought these clinics could help another part of the San Diego community get the vaccine.

“(There’s a) large percentage of this community that are still technologically challenged,” Quichocho. “I know several people aren’t able to navigate a website like I was able to, so I think that’s a fantastic opportunity for them.

Although these sites do not require an appointment, they are first-come, first-served and both clinics do have ZIP code restrictions. Proof of residency or business address are required. The county has listed available ZIP codes on its website.

In the meantime, vaccine deliveries still remain low for Scripps Health, which runs the Del Mar Fairgrounds Vaccination Super Station. It will be closed on Wednesday, April 14th and April 16th and 17th and 18th. Scripps said anyone who had a scheduled appointment for those dates will be rescheduled.

The county says about 43% of San Diegans have received at least one dose of the two-dose vaccines and about 25% are fully vaccinated.

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