Here’s what Stanislaus County leaders should do in approach to vaccinating residents

To help Stanislaus County rebound more quickly from this awful pandemic, leaders should immediately expand COVID vaccine eligibility to anyone 50 and older.

Last week, Solano County did it. On Monday, so did Contra Costa County. We should be next.

The more people are vaccinated against COVID-19, the sooner we build herd immunity — a critical component of life returning to normal, or something like it.

Previously long lines are dwindling in vaccine clinics with the current 65-and-older requirement, plus younger people with medical needs or with certain jobs, like education, child care and food service. Anecdotally — meaning this is not based on scientific polling, but on what we’re hearing — it appears that doses may be starting to exceed people who are willing and eligible for shots.

No dose should go unused, or worse, expire and be discarded because vaccinators can’t find enough arms for these life-preserving shots.

In all honesty, leaders on every level — county, state and national — have spotty records for management of this pandemic. We don’t turn a blind eye to Stanislaus’ stumbles, including an appalling lack of enforcement.

But since Operation Warp Speed broke records in producing vaccines, Stanislaus County’s performance in distributing shots has been stellar.

Nowhere in California could senior citizens initially get vaccinated quicker than right here, because of the county’s commitment to a speedy rollout and consistent outreach since. Recent data show Stanislaus’ vaccination rate behind the statewide average of 381 per 1,000 residents, but ahead of both our neighbors at 331 per 1,000 compared to 305 in San Joaquin County and 268 in Merced County.

The Modesto Bee does not condone line-hopping to obtain a shot before one’s eligibility comes due. But this editorial board also strongly encourages as many people to get vaccinated as soon as humanly possible, whether at county clinics, doctors offices or pharmacies.

Some experts see nothing immoral about approaching a vaccine clinic near the close of a shift and asking if extra shots might be available, The San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Again, anecdotally, we’re hearing that Stanislaus eligibility screeners are not being sticklers, preferring to rely on the honor system than demanding pay stubs, birth certificates or other proof.

The goal — urgent, widespread vaccination — is noble. Vaccinators should not have to feel guilty for searching high and low for reasons to accept any bared arm. Especially when they have full vials and few takers.

Reroute shots refused by Stanislaus anti-vaxxers

The recent tilt toward supply and away from demand is partly because too many among us have unwisely refused to be vaccinated. Whether blinded by misguided anti-vax propaganda or a general belief that the coronavirus really isn’t that big of a deal doesn’t really matter. No one can force them to be patriotic and selfless.

Their loss can be someone else’s gain, if that someone else can get vaccinated sooner rather than later.

That can happen for thousands more Stanislaus residents if leaders simply follow the example of Solano and Contra Costa counties and expand eligibility by lowering the age limit from 65 to 50, or even to 40.

Gov. Gavin Newsom could do the same for all of California any day now. Or he could not.

Why wait? Give us some bragging rights, Stanislaus leaders. Slide us closer to the cutting edge by giving us more arms to poke, right now.

This story was originally published March 24, 2021 at 4:00 AM.