As of December 1, 2021, 45 percent of Kern County’s eligible population has been fully vaccinated.
In Kern County, Maricopa currently has the lowest vaccination rates—with only 18 percent of the eligible population being fully vaccinated.
The following is a list of some Kern County locations with zip codes of people that are fully vaccinated:
- 93268 Taft – 29.54%
- 93280 Wasco – 40.68%
- 93305 Bakersfield – 40.66%
- 93203 Arvin – 49.53%
- 93215 Delano – 49.95%
- 93301 Bakersfield – 55.31%
Many community members from Kern County have been affected by COVID-19.
Karla Solano Perez, Bakersfield resident, suffered from COVID-19 and said she had a bad experience during the time she was sick. Her mom also suffered from COVID-19 and they had to support each other to go through this COVID-19 experience.
“I remember the first days I felt like I was going to die. I had an unexplainable headache, and it felt like someone was hitting me with a hammer in my forehead. I had so much pressure on my head, and it was a pain that I have never felt in my life,” said Perez. “I remember we would pray together, and I was so afraid of losing my mother. She was not able to breathe or eat, and she started losing so much weight. One night we almost ended up in the ER and they were going to put my mom in ventilation to help her breath. I would check my mom’s and my oxygen every day.”
Perez hopes for people to be more careful when it comes to COVID-19.
“I think people have forgotten how serious COVID is and now they are not even taking precautions,” said Perez. “A lot of people think that because they got the vaccine they are immune to getting sick and that is not the case.”
Flor Duran, Arvin resident, was also affected by COVID-19.
“I got it and I felt so sick that I couldn’t breathe. At times I still get that sensation still,” said Duran. “My husband’s grandpa passed away from it.”
Duran describes some of the symptoms to be fever, chills, cough, loss of smell, chest pain, and loss of breath.
“I was very tired and sleepy,” said Duran. “My husband helped me a lot because I had body ache, and it took me more than 2 months to actually feel more like my normal self.”
Trey Armstrong, Bakersfield resident, has been impacted by COVID-19 as well.
“COVID has impacted my life in less of a severe way, but perhaps a more humbling way,” said Armstrong. “What I mean by that is, since having COVID I haven’t regained my sense of smell or taste. Those are two things you don’t really think about until they’re taken from you. From not being able to taste some of your favorite foods or beverages to realizing you can’t even smell your favorite fragrances.”
Armstrong describes his COVID-19 symptoms would be migraines for over a week, fever of 105, loss of taste, and loss of appetite.
“It impacted me doing anything, every day I was literally exhausted and had no energy for anything,” said Armstrong.
To schedule an appointment for a vaccine visit myturn.ca.gov.