December 7, 2021
A Message From The Supervisor:
We are rapidly approaching the end of the year and the holiday season is upon us. Last week, I had the pleasure to see many neighbors at the Excelsior tree lighting at Persia Triangle. It was exciting to celebrate the holiday season with families and businesses.
Many people have reached out to our office looking for opportunities to donate or volunteer during the holidays. There are many opportunities within our community to give back. I will continue to add flyers for toy drives, food drives, and senior support to the later portion of this newsletter. Please keep your eyes peeled for those highlighted opportunities.
Our office remains accessible to the public through telephone, email, virtual meeting or in person via appointment. We are available by email: safaistaff@sfgov.org or by phone 415-554-6976 (leave a message and we will call you back). You can also check for updates on my Twitter , Instagram, and Facebook. Stay safe and healthy.
Please note - if you miss my weekly newsletter, you may find it later on the Board of Supervisor’s website. Click HERE to read past newsletters.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to my staff at Safaistaff@sfgov.org.
Sincerely,
Supervisor Ahsha Safai
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Omicron Variant
The California and San Francisco Departments of Public Health have confirmed that a recent case of COVID-19 among an individual in California was caused by the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529). The individual was a traveler who returned from South Africa on November 22, 2021. The individual, who is a San Francisco resident, is self-isolating and is experiencing mild symptoms. We are continuing to speak with the individual about any persons with whom they have been in contact.
Genomic sequencing was conducted at the University of California, San Francisco and the sequence was confirmed at CDC as being from the Omicron variant. This will be the first confirmed case of COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant detected in the United States, though there are likely other cases that have not yet been detected.
“San Francisco has one of the highest vaccination rates and lowest death rates in the country because of the actions our residents have taken from the beginning of this pandemic to keep each other safe. We knew that it was only a matter of time until the Omicron variant was detected in our city, and the work that we have done to this point has prepared us to handle this variant. We continue to encourage everyone to get vaccinated, get boosted, and take steps to keep each other safe,” said Mayor London N. Breed.
“We are still learning about the Omicron variant, but we are not back to square one with this disease. From what we know now, San Francisco is relatively well positioned to handle COVID-19 and its variants because of our high vaccination rates, our high booster uptake, and other local health measures such as masking and testing,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, Director of Health. “We will stay alert and vigilant and do what we need to do to protect ourselves. This means getting vaccinated, getting your booster, wearing a mask indoors, and taking the other steps we know help slow the spread.”
On November 26, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified a new variant, B.1.1.529, as a Variant of Concern and named it Omicron and on November 30, 2021, the United States also classified it as a Variant of Concern. CDC has been actively monitoring and preparing for this variant, and we will continue to work diligently with other U.S. and global public health and industry partners to learn more. Despite the detection of Omicron, Delta remains the predominant strain in the United States.
The recent emergence of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters, and general prevention strategies needed to protect against COVID-19. Everyone 5 and older should get vaccinated boosters are recommended for everyone 18 years and older. San Francisco has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world at 81% of the eligible population, and is currently administering boosters to more than 5,000 vaccinated individuals a day. The City also has in place other safety protocols, such as universal masking in indoor public settings, and proof of vaccination requirements for certain businesses, as well as a robust testing and surveillance system. These safety measures put the City in a good position to fight COVID variants, such as Omicron.
For more information on the Omicron variant visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/index.html.
San Francisco Urges Safer Choices During Holiday Season, Recommends COVID-19 Boosters for All Adults
As the winter holiday season is upon us, the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) supports safe celebrations and gatherings as an important part of recovery from the pandemic, especially when it comes to our mental health and overall wellbeing.
We are seeing an uptick of COVID cases in San Francisco and across the region as we enter the holiday season and people increase activity. As we work to slow the spread of the virus, it is more important than ever to exercise caution and make safer choices to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the holidays. While we are in a far better place than last year, higher case numbers are still tied to higher rates of hospitalization and more deaths. There are many common-sense measures such as vaccinations, masking, testing that can help keep us safe and protect the most vulnerable among us from developing a severe case of COVID or becoming hospitalized.
SFDPH is now recommending COVID-19 boosters for everyone 18 and older to strengthen their immune systems. Boosters are now essential for anyone in a higher risk category, including seniors ages 65 and older; people with underlying medical conditions; people who live and work in high-risk settings; and anyone who received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine. For more guidance on boosters and timing, go to: sf.gov/information/get-your-booster
Newly eligible for vaccines are children ages 5 to 11, and they should begin their two-dose vaccination series as soon as possible. A person is not fully vaccinated until two weeks after their second primary dose.
“This holiday season, it’s wonderful to see us resuming the many festivities, gatherings, and travel that make us feel whole again and connected to one another,” said Director of Health, Dr. Grant Colfax. “Please remember to keep safety in mind as we navigate varied social situations – for our own wellbeing, and for our loved ones and our community. Our best tools to combat the worst of COVID-19 are vaccines, including boosters.”
Keep in mind that San Francisco’s Safer Return Together health order is still in effect, requiring indoor masks in most public settings where people come and go, such as retail stores, and proof of vaccinations where food and drink is consumed, such as restaurants and bars.
SFDPH guidance on celebrating safely includes the following:
- Get vaccinated against COVID-19, including children ages 5-11 now that they are eligible.
- Get a COVID-19 booster -- especially if you’re a senior or at higher risk.
- Get a flu vaccine, which can be taken safely with a COVID-19 booster
- Choose outdoor activities over indoor activities, and limit being in crowds especially if you are unvaccinated
- Wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings, or whenever feasible in private indoor settings – especially when unvaccinated are present or the vaccination status of those present is unknown
- Wash your hands frequently and carry hand sanitizer wherever you go
- Delay travel until you are fully vaccinated. This means two weeks after completing your primary dose series (two doses for Pfizer and Moderna or one dose of Johnson & Johnson)
- Monitor your health and stay home if you feel sick, and get tested
- Consider testing within 72 hours before you travel or gather with others as you may have an asymptomatic infection. You can use an FDA-approved rapid at-home, self-test kit, reach out to your health service provider, a travel testing provider, or to receive a test, go to: sf.gov/gettested
San Francisco is making progress on vaccinating and boosting our residents as a result of the efforts of community partners and nearly 100 vaccination sites across the City that are within a 10-15- minute walk of most residents.
To date, we have fully vaccinated 80% of the eligible population, and since early November have administered first doses to more than 13,000 children ages 5 to 11, or about 30% of the age group.
With boosters, we have reached 138,000 San Francisco residents 18 years of age and older who qualify based on the timing of their previous dose (6 months past the second dose of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, and 2 months past the Johnson & Johnson vaccine). About 43% of seniors ages 65 and older, who are among the high risk, have received a booster. We are averaging 3,900 boosters per day.
These efforts will help the City avert a winter surge, in addition to San Franciscans making safer choices as they enjoy the holidays together.
While SFDPH-affiliated vaccine facilities are ready to turn no one away, health systems and pharmacies may need time to respond to the booster expansion. For example, patients may still see screening tools used during appointment bookings asking them to attest to a narrower set of eligibility criteria. As the systems are updated, people should choose the least restrictive of the criteria that applies to them. Many work and residential settings pose the risk of exposure to COVID.
For more information on where to get a vaccination or booster in San Francisco visit: sf.gov/getvaccinated.
San Francisco Ready to Roll Out COVID-19 Vaccines For 5 to 11 Year Olds
San Francisco children ages 5 to 11 years old are now eligible to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, following a careful clinical study of its safety and efficacy and after receiving final approval and guidance from federal and state authorities.
The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH), health system partners and pharmacies will begin administering the vaccines largely by appointment only starting today in select locations, with SFDPH-affiliated spots and four school sites initially reserved for children in highly-impacted neighborhoods where access is crucial.
We anticipate every child to have access to a vaccination over the next several weeks as we enter the busy holiday season. Parents and caregivers can make appointments using their health system’s instructions, or pharmacy websites. We recommend you:
- Make an appointment first with your child's healthcare provider or at a pharmacy
- Make an appointment at myturn.ca.gov or at sf.gov/getvaccinated
- If you're still having trouble making an appointment, call the COVID Resource Center at (628)217-6101
Many of the larger health systems, such as UCSF and Kaiser, will begin to book appointments on Friday and into the weekend as well as next week. Scaling up, a number of larger-volume sites across the City, including those at major health systems, have the capacity to administer 500 or more doses per day, while SFDPH’s four school-based sites are expanding to accommodate 250 vaccines per day to support the school community as needed. To ensure easy access for working families and children in school, SFDPH and health system partners will hold evening and weekend vaccination sites, and pop-up events at select locations.
The shot itself is nearly painless, and most people who get vaccinated may only experience side effects such as a sore arm, fever, or fatigue. These are completely normal and are signs the body is building immunity to the virus.
Parents, guardians, or other person with legal authority must consent to the receipt of the vaccine, and those with questions or concerns about the vaccine should talk to their health care provider and weigh any risk from a vaccine against the dangers of acquiring an infectious disease like COVID-19.
It is now also influenza season, and many clinics and vaccination sites can provide both COVID and Flu vaccinations to children, and it is safe to receive both on the same day. COVID vaccinations are an opportunity to connect children with their health care providers, and also address other health care needs they may have, including check-ups and getting up to date on their other vaccinations.
Key points for parents and caregivers:
- Effectiveness: Immune responses of children 5 through 11 years of age were comparable to those of individuals 16 through 25 years of age. In addition, the vaccine was found to be 90.7% effective in preventing COVID-19 in children 5 through 11.
- Safety: The vaccine’s safety was studied in approximately 3,100 children age 5 through 11 who received the vaccine and no serious side effects have been detected in the ongoing study.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet next week to discuss further clinical recommendations
How to support children during their vaccine visit
(Click HERE for the source)
- Bring quiet activities to entertain your child for the required 15 minute observation period after receiving the vaccine.
- Pack your child’s favorite toy, book, or blanket to comfort him or her during vaccinations.
- Be honest with your child. Explain that shots can pinch or sting, but that it won’t hurt for long.
- Engage other family members, especially older siblings, to support your child.
- Avoid telling scary stories or making threats about shots.
- Remind your child that vaccines can keep him or her healthy – they are a good thing!
- Distract and comfort your child by cuddling, singing, or talking softly.
- Smile and make eye contact with your child. Let your child know that everything is ok.
- Hold your child firmly on your lap, whenever possible while they receive the shot.
For more information about COVID-19 vaccines for children, go to the CDC's resource page.
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First Year Free - New Program to Support San Francisco Small Businesses
What is First Year Free?
First Year Free offers relief to qualifying new businesses and new locations of existing businesses by waiving their initial registration, initial license, first-year permit and other applicable fees. The program will be available to qualified new businesses and existing businesses with new locations who commence business between November 1, 2021 and October 31, 2022.
What Do I Need to Know?
TTX is currently working with partner departments to implement the First Year Free program. On November 1, 2021, TTX will begin to enroll qualifying businesses in the program, and then departments with fees covered by First Year Free will waive those fees and bill TTX. TTX will provide more information and verification tools to all impacted departments and business owners will be instructed to alert departments about their inclusion in the program.
How Can I Help?
Spread the word! If you interact with small businesses or people who are planning to start a new business, please let them know about First Year Free:
- Direct them to the program webpage at sftreasurer.org/FirstYearFree, which will be updated with the latest information.
- Distribute information about the program to relevant contacts or via departmental social media.
- Share ideas for how to publicize the program (for example, through merchant groups, neighborhood listservs, etc.).
What If I Have More Questions or Ideas?
If you have any questions about the program or outreach ideas, feel free to reach out to Molly Cohen (molly.cohen@sfgov.org) at TTX. |
Celebrate the launch of San Francisco’s 2021 Climate Action Plan
Join TEDxCityofSanFrancisco on December 8 at 5:30 p.m. to hear from Mayor London N. Breed, local activists, artists, and business leaders who will share their stories of hope and progress toward a healthier, more equitable San Francisco for all.
To learn more and register, visit: https://tedxcityofsf.eventbrite.com
If you have any questions, please contact:
Alex Bogdan
Senior Marketing Strategies | San Francisco Department of the Environment
alexandra.bogdan@sfgov.org |
San Francisco Adult Probation Department Holiday Coat Drive
The San Francisco Adult Probation Department and its Community Advisory Board are hosting our Second Annual Holiday Coat Drive. It’s that time of year – help others stay warm this winter! All donations will be distributed to our City’s most vulnerable. Thank you in advance! If you have questions, please contact Hashim Munir at 415-652-0830 or hashim.munir@sfgov.org.
What are we looking for?
- Men’s and Women’s warm coats (New or like new)
- Sizes: L, XL, XXL
Donation Hours and Location:
- November 1, 2021 – December 10, 2020
- M-F: 10am-4pm
- 564 6th Street
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Dignity Fund Community Forums
The San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services wants to hear from you! We are currently gathering community input on the needs of older people and adults with disabilities as part of the 2022 Dignity Fund Community Needs Assessment, with the goal of continuing to improve how we serve you. Add your voice to this important process, and help shape future decisions about how we should use the Dignity Fund to meet our community’s needs!
Visit sfhsa.org/DFCNA to take our survey and register for a virtual or in-person community forum. We are hosting a virtual District 11 forum on 12/8 from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. Cantonese and Spanish interpretation will be available. We are also hosting several in-person forums citywide. See our full calendar of events and register for a forum at sfhsa.org/DFCNA. |
| Dropped in the tree lighting celebration with Excelsior Action Group, OEWD, and the Curtis Family C-Notes. It was wonderful to celebrate the holidays with community. |
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