Santa Clara County withholding vaccines from hospital that gave doses to teachers before health care workers, elderly

LOS GATOS — 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 did not immediately return an email Tuesday seeking comment.

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 an apology posted Saturday that the hospital was “in error" and said that the decision to expand vaccine distribution beyond state and county recommendations was done in order “to avoid wasting supply that was already thawed.”

“We are committed to working with the county on a plan to assure we have clarity and are adhering to the state and county guidelines on vaccine eligibility, which we have done so prior to this incident,” DeSchryver added. “Additionally, we are reviewing our processes and systems to ensure this does not happen again.”

Sarah Sherwood, a spokeswoman for the hospital, had no immediate comment Tuesday.