Fresno County now vaccinating food & ag workers, education & childcare

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Starting Monday, more groups are officially eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Fresno County.

Whether you work at a Save Mart or Target or a fast food restaurant like Burger King, then you are now eligible to receive the vaccine.

This change expands the pool of people eligible to sign up for a vaccine as they're allotted more doses this week.

UCSF Fresno Doctor Kenny Banh oversees says, "Thousands and thousands of more people are now eligible, so we really need to get these people vaccinated."

Hundreds of Moderna doses are available at this "first come, first served" drive-through site at the UC building at Shaw and Mariposa on Monday. It's located across from Fashion Fair Mall and offered in partnership with UCSF and the COVID-19 Equity Project.

The latest eligible tier includes people 18 and older in education and childcare, as well as food and agriculture.

"That means people in restaurants, whether sit down, fast food, as well as what we consider big box stores - which is like the Targets, the Walmarts and anywhere basically that's serving grocery or food services," Dr. Banh says.

The UCSF vaccination site is open six days a week, with no charge, no insurance collected, no appointments needed.

You can check if you qualify by going on the state's MyTurn website.

Dr. Kenny Banh says you are required to bring some proof of your qualification - such as a work ID, paystub, or letter from your employer on company letterhead. "We are pretty flexible; we want to really get vaccines in arms," he said.

Two brothers showed up to the UCSF clinic to get vaccinated. Ishaan Rahal, 21, and 19-year-old Jashan Rahal both work in the ag industry. They say they are the first of their friends to get the shot, but the last in their family.

Ishaan said, "My dad works in the medical field and my moms an educator, so our family, we all have vaccines, so it's great." Meanwhile, Jashan said, "Yeah, it feels good having it, and knowing we are taking the next step to be prepared."

Cindy Alexander works food service provider Saladinos, delivering food to restaurants. "We did have a death in the family last year, so we take things very seriously. There was no question when the vaccine was available, I was going to do it."

Dr. Banh says the UC vaccination site in Northeast Fresno offers easy access for those who use public transportation.

Click here for more information about your vaccine eligibility and clinic locations.