Lompoc sees increase in COVID-19 positivity rate and hospitalizations | Local News

Of the 38 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the county during the same period, four were hospitalized Thursday at Lompoc Valley Medical Center, which rose to five Friday, according to LVMC CEO Steve Popkin.

Popkin said the five patients are “a recent peak for LVMC”, however, the rate is still “well below LVMC’s pandemic peak of 26 patients”.

Despite the new highs, no deaths were reported in the county during the week of June 12, although there were 4 deaths during the seven-week period ending June 19, including one in Lompoc, according to Popkin.

The last COVID-related death at LVMC before May 31 was February 21, he noted.

A rate of 73.6% for people five years and older who are fully vaccinated in Santa Barbara County was reported on June 23, with vaccination defined as a single dose of Johnson & Johnson or two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Of that percentage, 66% of eligible people in North County have been fully vaccinated, according to the data.

According to Popkin, the vaccine for children ages 6 months to 5 years will be available to existing and newly established patients with Lompoc Health pediatricians beginning later this week after shipments of two types of vaccines began to roll in. arriving in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties last week.

Children can receive one-tenth the adult dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in a three-shot series or one-quarter the adult dose of the Moderna vaccine in a two-shot series, a Santa Barbara County spokeswoman said.

As a comparison for the Pfizer vaccine, children under 5 have a three-dose, 3-microgram regimen; children 5 to 11 years old have a diet of two 10 micrograms; and those 12 and older have a two-dose, 30-microgram regimen, Popkin said.

He noted that depending on individual circumstances, the vaccination will be given during an appointment with a pediatrician or at a “vaccination clinic.”

Vaccination clinics for over 5s will continue at Lompoc Hospital every Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Appointments are also available at myturn.ca.govand walk-ins are welcome.

For more information, contact Lompoc Health, North H Center, at 805-737-8760, or North Third Center at 805-736-1253.

Other pediatric providers in the Lompoc community will also provide vaccines for the under 5 age group, and patients are encouraged to check with their pediatric provider.