Coachella Valley reaches milestone with 65.7% of eligible residents fully vaccinated against COVID-19

Two-thirds of eligible Coachella Valley residents are fully vaccinated, the latest numbers from Riverside University Health System - Public Health show.

Since Riverside County's COVID-19 vaccination efforts began in December 2020, 65.7 percent of eligible valley residents, or 247,811 people, have been fully vaccinated as of August 18, 2021.

Eligible residents are those 12 years old and older. Among the youngest eligible residents, 12- to 17-year-olds, 37.8 percent are fully vaccinated.

When considering all Coachella Valley residents, including those who are younger than 12 and not yet able to get a vaccine, 57.5 percent are fully vaccinated.

"Our community has made significant strides in protecting residents from this deadly pandemic, and we all should be encouraged," said Conrado Bárzaga, Desert Healthcare District and Foundation CEO. "The Coachella Valley Equity Collaborative, Riverside University Health System, and every other organization providing vaccines has contributed to this effort. However, the work is far from done. Vaccination efforts are as essential and urgent as before to ensure residents remain safe from COVID-19."

Earlier this week, the California Department of Public Health reported that unvaccinated individuals are 37 times more likely to get COVID-19 and 120 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than fully vaccinated individuals.

To achieve population (herd) immunity of 80 percent in the Coachella Valley, approximately 96,900 more residents need to be fully vaccinated, Bárzaga said. That number is expected to decrease as more residents get vaccinated, prompted by the Federal Drug Administration's recent approval of the Pfizer vaccine.

About the Coachella Valley Equity Collaborative

In fall 2020, acting as the financial intermediary for $1.2 million in CARES Act funds through Riverside County, the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation formed a collaborative to increase efforts to bring testing, resources, and eventually vaccines to traditionally undeserved communities, including thousands of migrant farmworkers in eastern Coachella Valley. Comprised of community- and faith-based organizations, the collaborative continues its work with the county today to stop the spread of COVID-19 through a robust vaccination campaign. In recent months, its efforts have been bolstered by the contributions of Rite Aid Pharmacies, the Public Health Institute, the school districts, and Desert Care Network.

Media inquiries should be directed to Will Dean, director of communications and marketing for the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation, at wdean@dhcd.org.