TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager
SUBJECT: COVID-19 Vaccine Education & Distribution Campaign Update
BRIEFING ITEM
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider receiving ongoing COVID-19 report, including an update on the District’s Vaccination Education and Distribution Campaign.
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Safe and Secure Operations
The District continues to employ robust internal and public practices designed to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on its employees and the public. California’s vaccine rollout has been less than seamless with a number of changes to the prioritization system and varying distribution at the County level. Questions persist, including when large quantities of vaccine doses will arrive in Bay Area counties and how to register to get the vaccine. The District has launched a COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Distribution Campaign in anticipation of the vaccine being made available to public transit workers.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
The impact of the pandemic on the District’s finances is set forth in the mid-year budget. The fiscal impact of the vaccine administration is currently unknown. Staff is considering a financial incentive program to encourage COVID-19 inoculations for front line workers who present a completed CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card to their supervisor. The fiscal impact of the program is unknown at the time.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
The attached COVID-19 presentation provides an update on the following:
• Federal pandemic relief funding
• Operator and rider safety measures
• The District’s available supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Statistics regarding positive COVID cases at the District
• Information on the District’s testing protocol
• Updated information regarding the District’s Vaccine Education and Distribution Campaign
• Information regarding paratransit’s vaccination plan
Changes in Vaccination Prioritization
As previously reported, public transit workers had been prioritized in Phase 1B, Tier 2 for vaccinations. On January 25, 2021, however, Governor Newsom announced a new vaccine distribution plan. Under this plan, the state would complete vaccine distribution for the current phases, Phase 1A and Phase 1B - Tier 1, inclusive of individuals 65 years of age and older, healthcare workers, long-term care residents, teachers and childcare workers, first responders, and food and agriculture workers; then, turn to an age-based distribution system. This plan would effectively eliminate Phase 1B - Tier 2, which included public transit workers. That said, local public health offices are expected to retain discretion on prioritization.
On January 25, 2021, the COVID-19 Transit Crisis Relief Task Force of the California Transit Association (of which AC Transit is a member), voted to send a letter to Governor Newsom urging that the state continue to prioritize frontline workers in public transit agencies in the vaccine distribution plan (Attachment 2). On January 27, 2021, General Managers from several Bay Area transit agencies sent a letter to Governor Newsom similarly advocating for the prioritization of frontline transit workers to “ensure the state’s recovery is aided by a healthy workforce ready to carry a growing number of individuals to vaccination sites, school, work and other essential activities” (Attachment 3). Throughout the month of January, the General Manager and Board President met with members of the AC Transit state delegation during which they emphasized prioritization of public transit workers for vaccine distribution (sample thank you letter, Attachment 4).
Staff is actively participating in city, county, and state public health department virtual sessions, their online dashboards, and the District's two largest medical providers for up-to-the-minute information.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
There are no disadvantages to receiving this report.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
No alternative analysis is provided.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
None
ATTACHMENTS:
1. COVID Update PowerPoint Presentation
2. CTA Letter to Governor Newsom
3. Bay Area GMs Letter to Governor Newsom
4. Thank you letter to Assembly Member Rob Bonta
Prepared by:
Robert Lyles, Media Affairs Manager
In Collaboration with:
Tabby Davenport, Safety Manager
Mallory Nestor, Accessible Services Manager
Fred Walls, Director of Procurement
Approved/Reviewed by:
Michael A. Hursh, General Manager
Jill A. Sprague, General Counsel
Claudia Burgos, Director of Legislative Affairs & Community Relations
Nathaniel Kramer, Acting Executive Director of Human Resources
Salvador Llamas, Chief Operating Officer
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering
Chris Andrichak, Acting Deputy Chief Financial Officer