San Diego City Wire

Approximately 82,600 San Diego employees who work in the critical health care industry will be the first residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19, San Diego County reported.

The first 28,000 doses, being delivered to the region, will vaccinate 72% of the county population, which is close to 40,000 people. People who are working in the critical care industry, the psychiatric industry and people who work in correctional facility hospitals are at risk of catching COVID-19.

Additionally, 180 workers at the County Psychiatric Hospital will be receiving the first doses as well.

“We first have to vaccinate our acute health care personnel who are at highest risk,” Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., county public health officer, said in a press release. “After everyone in that group has gotten their first dose, we will move into our next priority group.”

Additional doses coming into the county will also immunize more personnel in the critical health care industry. These workers include 14,000 employees who are at high risk of getting COVID-19. After they receive their vaccines, another 14,000 employees who are at medium risk will receive their vaccines. Then about 14,000 workers who are lower risk will receive their vaccines.