Since COVID-19 vaccinations were rolled out starting last month, NASW-CA has gotten a lot of inquiries regarding when social workers are eligible to receive the vaccine. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has recommendations regarding the tiered process for residents to receive the vaccine, but local health jurisdictions have created their own tiers and processes based on the needs of local residents.
The tiered approach, for the most part, is structured by place of employment. Because social workers work in such a variety of settings, many have already received and continue to receive the vaccine. We encourage all social workers to contact their employer and their local health departments with inquiries about where they fall in the tiered system. NASW-CA continues to advocate for social workers to be named in the tiered systems across the state.
For your reference:
Local health department contact directory: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/LocalHealthServicesAndOffices.aspx#
For more information on the vaccination process and tier recommendations: https://covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/
To read NASW-CA’s letter to the California Community Vaccine Advisory Committee: https://naswcanews.org/nasw-ca-social-workers-should-be-prioritized-for-the-covid-19-vaccine/
