SAN BERNARDINO _ (INT) - With the arrival of more than 12,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine, San Bernardino County has launched a concentrated effort to inoculate the county’s homeless population.

The County’s first vaccination event specifically focused on unsheltered individuals was held Thursday at Mary’s Mercy Center in San Bernardino. Doses of J&J have also gone to Loma Linda University Medical Center, Colorado River Medical Center in Needles, and Mountains Community Hospital in Lake Arrowhead.

Colorado River and Mountain Communities were selected because the single-dose nature of the J&J vaccine make it ideal for more-remote locations where ensuring timely second doses can be a challenge.

“Preventing transmission of the virus in congregate care facilities such as homeless shelters is extremely challenging, so vaccinating this population is a high priority for us,” said County Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “Fortunately, the new J&J vaccine offers us enormous advantages in this effort.”

Story Date: March 17, 2021