Why are some Berkeley ZIP codes getting COVID-19 vaccines faster?
Income, politics and systemic racism in health care are all factors, experts say.
Coronavirus
Top Stories
Pfizer’s vaccine is now approved for kids as young as 12. Here’s what you need to know.
The FDA has given Pfizer emergency authorization so preteens can get vaccinated against COVID-19.
How Berkeley Unified has begun to spend its COVID-19 funds
The district has allocated $3 million of $16 million in COVID relief money. The money is going toward individual schools, technology replacement, special education assessments and more.
In brief
Berkeley COVID-19 vaccines available without appointments
No appointment is needed for a one- or two-shot COVID-19 vaccine at the Bayer site in West Berkeley. Drop-ins are also open at Golden Gate Fields.
COVID-19 vaccine
Alameda County resumes using J&J vaccine while addressing lingering concerns
Officials say the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is safe but rebuilding confidence requires time and education.
In brief
People fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can go maskless outside in Berkeley
The move puts the city in alignment with the new guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In brief
Berkeley COVID-19 vaccines are now open to 16 and over, regardless of residence
Seventy percent of Berkeley residents have had one dose and over 45% of those who are eligible are fully vaccinated.
In brief
Cal to require vaccines for students, faculty this fall
Exemptions will be made based on religious beliefs or medical history.
Over one-third of Alameda County adults have been fully vaccinated
With all adults now eligible, community clinics are helping make vaccine distribution more equitable, but supply problems could crop up again.
City
Families can hug again at Berkeley care facilities
As California virus rates improve, lockdown restrictions are easing in group living settings.
Missteps, lack of transparency plagued Berkeley Unified school reopening planning
Blunders did not delay the return to in-person instruction, but the district was less than forthcoming with Berkeleyside throughout the process.
In brief
Berkeley will pause use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to extremely rare side effects
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has less than a one in a million chance of severe side effects, but the city is pausing its administration out of an abundance of caution.
Vaccinations now available for Berkeley residents 16+ and others in high-risk industries
The city has announced that first-dose vaccination appointments are available April 13-16 for Berkeley or Alameda County residents who are at least 16 years old as well as others.
Schools
Berkeley Unified seniors will graduate in person this June
The graduation will be split into several ceremonies held at Berkeley High’s stadium June 4-6.
Update: COVID-19 outbreak linked to unmasked BHS boys basketball tryouts
This is BUSD’s first COVID-19 outbreak since the start of the pandemic. The city asked the district to pause tryouts for all sports but hybrid learning will continue as normal.
‘We’ve waited for this a long time’: Berkeley students grades 3-8 go back in person to school
On April 12, students in grades 3-5 went back five days per week and middle schoolers began hybrid learning.
Middle and high school students will return to school for a few hours a week
Berkeley Unified and the teachers’ union reached an agreement Tuesday on a hybrid learning schedule.
Nosh
In brief
Berkeley enters orange tier: Bars, offices able to reopen
California is expected to announce Tuesday that Alameda County can move into the orange tier, meaning Berkeley could open bars and expand several other business operations.
In brief
Alameda County should enter red tier soon: Berkeley indoor dining, gyms would then reopen
The County and Berkeley will enter red tier next week if they can sustain low case rates, making several businesses eligible to reopen indoors.
In brief
Berkeley unanimously approves $5-per-hour hazard pay for grocery store workers
The law goes into effect immediately and applies to larger grocery stores with 300 or more employees.
Local home cooks make and deliver free lasagnas to neighbors in need
Lasagna Love is a grassroots campaign that matches volunteer home cooks with anyone struggling during the pandemic who could use a free, hot meal.
Oakland approves $5 hazard pay for grocery workers; Berkeley considers it
Oakland grocery workers are getting a substantial hazard pay raise starting immediately.
Are people really drinking more at home during the pandemic?
We spoke to several East Bay specialty liquor retailers to find out how the pandemic has affected business.
Golden Gate Fields
Volunteers no longer welcome at Berkeley’s main COVID-19 vaccination site
Curative, the private company running the site, is concerned about the liability of using volunteers at the Golden Gate Fields site.
Berkeley mass vaccination site inoculates 323 people in ‘soft launch’
Vaccine appointments at Golden Gate Fields are currently hard to come by.
Update: ‘Mass vaccination site’ now open for residents age 75 or older
The North County Mass Vaccination Site is in the north parking lot of Golden Gate Fields. Appointments can be made online.
In brief
Live racing to resume at Golden Gate Fields following COVID-19 outbreak
“COVID-19 concerns on the campus have decreased to levels to allow the resumption of live racing,” Golden Gate Fields said Friday in a prepared statement.
‘Urgent’ changes at Golden Gate Fields amid 100 more COVID-19 cases
More than 300 people at Golden Gate Fields have now tested positive for COVID-19. The racetrack has approximately 540 workers, the state has said.
In brief
In brief
South Berkeley residents in need can get a free ride to Oakland Coliseum COVID-19 vaccination appointments
Free rides for South Berkeley residents are available through the South Berkeley Mutual Aid Project and fully vaccinated drivers are encouraged to volunteer.
In brief
About a third of Berkeley residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with 50% having at least one shot
Nearly half of all Berkeley residents have gotten at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 30% of the city’s population is fully vaccinated.
In brief
Those 50 and older in Berkeley can get the COVID-19 vaccine from April 1, followed by those 16+
The COVID-19 vaccine will be available to everyone in Berkeley except children in the next two weeks.
Opinion
Opinion: Berkeley mayor says, do your part to address public health risks
The city of Berkeley will help businesses and artists impacted by the coronavirus and is taking steps to help the homeless, seniors, and single parents, among others.
Opinion: Change your behavior now to prevent spread of COVID-19, implores Berkeley native quarantined in Italy
The outbreak of COVID-19 is now a global pandemic. People should take it seriously, yet also be wary of alarmist panic.
Opinion: When Berkeley residents are there for each other, we are at our best
COVID-19 is also threatening a local economic crisis, which may affect the viability of Berkeley’s small businesses. Here are some steps we can take to help out.
Recent stories
Oakland Coliseum mass vaccination site will close in May
Getting COVID-19 vaccine shots in arms will now mostly fall to community-based groups.
Berkeley emergency homeless shelter closes for the season, relocates some residents
The BESS ran from November to April this year, and remained open 24 hours a day with reduced capacity.
Watch: Kaiser Permanente Oakland’s chief physician talks vaccine safety and efficacy
Dr. Rita Ng answers common questions about vaccines in Alameda County.
