Santa Clara County health officials are withholding COVID-19 vaccines from a hospital after it offered the vaccine to about 65 teachers and staffers from a wealthy school district in Silicon Valley, skipping people over 65 and health care workers.
Teachers and staff at Los Gatos Union School District received an email last Thursday by Superintendent Paul Johnson offering vaccines ahead of schedule.
In the email, first reported by the San Jose Spotlight news outlet, Johnson said the hospital’s offer was made in gratitude because the district raised funds for 3,500 meals that went to frontline workers at Good Samaritan and another hospital.
“The COO of the hospital says we can access the appointments … and has cleared LGUSD staff to sign up under the healthcare buttons,” the email from Johnson to district staff obtained by Spotlight read.
Educators are part of Phase 1B for vaccine distribution in California and Santa Clara County, behind frontline staff, nursing home residents and those 65 and older.
Teachers, per the email, were told to impersonate health care workers despite the threat of perjury — with the approval of COO Gary Purushotham — to obtain access to the vaccine.
“Remember to register under healthcare initially,” Johnson’s email said.
Johnson said in a statement Tuesday that he mischaracterized the offer from the hospital and added “while I apologize for that characterization, I also will continue to advocate for school staff to be a high priority for vaccinations.”
In a letter from the county obtained by the SFGATE news website, Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, the county’s COVID-19 vaccine officer, said that the Good Samaritan Hospital’s actions “are inconsistent with both the letter and spirit” of California’s vaccine protocol.
The move also created confusion, he alleged, “causing other educators to understandably but incorrectly expect” vaccinations.
Santa Clara County will provide second doses for those who received their initial shot at Good Samaritan. But additional doses will be withheld “unless and until Good Samaritan provides sufficient assurances it will follow state and county direction on vaccine eligibility,” Fenstersheib said.
Good Samaritan CEO Joe DeSchryver said in a statement Tuesday that all appointments for a vaccine for people who are not health care workers or over 65 have been canceled.
“We regret the mistake we made in our efforts to use all vaccines prior to expiration,” he wrote.
The hospital will submit a revised vaccination plan to county officials by the end of the week that will include “stronger checks and balances to offer reassurances that we are adhering to state and county guidelines regarding our vaccine administration program,” he said.