January 2021: COVID-19 vaccination updates

Healthcare workers and individuals 75 years and older are currently eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines are currently available through the county or Cottage Health, and are not available in our office. 

If you are a healthcare worker or are age 75 or older: 
Beginning January 20, the county will begin vaccinating those 75 and older. Visit the SB County Public Health website to learn more and to make an appointment. Please note, vaccinations are arriving in batches so the health department will add more vaccination dates as they receive additional vaccine doses. 

Cottage Health is offering vaccines as available to healthcare workers and those 75 and older. Get more information here if you fit into either of those categories. 

If you are 65-74 years old: 
The county has said they will begin offering vaccines to those 65-74 in the near future (currently estimated for February). Get the latest information on the public health website and sign up here to receive email updates from public health about vaccinations in Santa Barbara County. 

For all others:
The county has put together a vaccination table listing the various tiers and timetable as they work to get vaccinations out to all. You can review this information by clicking here. 

COVID testing update:
If you think you may have COVID-19, please call the office and we can arrange testing for you. If you would like to be tested for any other reason (such as travel), you can now be tested in Buellton. To learn about all testing sites and for more information, visit the public health testing website. 
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Fall 2020 update

We hope you’re enjoying the new season! We love Fall, especially as the holidays get closer, but we also know we are entering flu season in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic. Your health and safety are our top priority so there are a few items we’d ask you keep in mind as we work to stop the spread together.
  • Limiting drop-in visits: Our office is open and we are seeing patients in person. Though we love seeing you, we’re not currently allowing anyone into the office without prior notice as we work to follow COVID protocols and minimize the number of patients in the office at one time. If you are planning to stop by the office for any reason other than a scheduled appointment, please call us and we can coordinate a convenient time for you to come in.
  • Let us know if you think you may have COVID (or have been exposed): If you are concerned you may have the Covid-19 virus, please call the office prior to being seen for any scheduled appointments.
  • Telehealth appointments: We are happy to schedule a telehealth visit with you if needed, depending on the type of appointment required. Please let us know if you’d prefer to be seen in the office or through a telehealth visit and we’ll help determine which type of appointment is the best for your care. 
  • Flu shots: We encourage our patients to get a flu shot every year and it’s even more important this year. If you haven't gotten your flu shot yet, please call the office to schedule a time to come in. 

Keeping our office safe and healthy
We are committed to the health and safety of our patients and staff. Here are the protocols we are following to help keep our office a safe environment: 
  • Pre-screening all patients for COVID symptoms and exposure
  • Checking the temperature of staff and patients
  • Requiring face masks to be worn by everyone at all times while in the office
  • Limiting the number of people visiting in the office to help prevent exposure and maintain social distancing
  • Using protective equipment based on infection-control best practices
  • Providing staff training and education on COVID-19 care and infection prevention
  • Using recommended disinfectant protocols between patients
 
Celebrating holidays during COVID-19
We love a good gathering and have been struggling with all the social distancing protocols too, but we also know how important it is to avoid spreading COVID. With the holidays coming up, we want to encourage you to find safe ways to celebrate. Check out the resources below for some great holiday tips:
  • Do the things you always do around each holiday that doesn’t involve being around large groups. Maybe you always bake dozens of holiday cookies to bring to parties, but you won’t be attending those gatherings this year. Keep baking, but make a smaller batch and share with a neighbor you see often! We encourage you to decorate, play lively music, do anything that helps you feel festive, even if you can’t celebrate in the same way you normally do.

Together, we know we can stay healthy and get through this unprecedented time. If you have any questions or concerns, please give us a call and have a very happy Fall!

Spring 2020 update

A special note from Dr. Heringer on the novel Coronavirus: COVID-19

We know this is a scary time for people around the world, including folks right here in the Valley, as we navigate this new reality in dealing with the COVID-19 virus. I want you to know that we are here to support you and our community – if needed – during this unprecedented time.
My staff and I will continue to work from the office, though we have been, and will continue to, limit/cease in-person office visits. As you have likely heard, the government is now allowing us to use telehealth, meaning we can do phone and video appointments with you if needed.

Here are a few notes I’d like to share with you:
  • Many people are under the impression that you can only get this virus, or will only be affected, if you are “elderly” or have underlying health conditions. This is not true! There are cases that span all ages group and people of various levels of health so please make sure you are following all precautions.
  • Follow the orders the government gives, like the current order to stay home. This doesn’t mean you can’t go outside. Take a brisk walk or work out in your yard, just make sure you maintain the 6-foot social distance.
  • Follow proper hand-washing protocols (like singing “Happy Birthday” twice while washing and making sure to scrub your full hand).  
  • Stay more than 6 feet away from others outside of your immediate family.

If you aren’t feeling well, we’re here for you. Give us a call at the office. We’ll talk with you over the phone about what’s going on and figure out the appropriate next steps.

Also, in order to get messages out quickly should a need for that arise, we just set up a Facebook page for the practice: facebook.com/drbillheringer. Follow us there for updates, but keep in mind that we won’t be responding to individual patient questions on Facebook. Please continue to contact us by phone if you need to reach us directly, and as always, if you have an emergency, call 9-1-1 and then call me when you’re able.

Stay safe and know that this, too, will pass. We have an amazing country filled with experts working around the clock to solve the issues this virus has caused and I am confident that we will see remedies in place in the near future.

Wishing you the best of health,

Bill