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Colfax: San Francisco cases fall from peak, vaccine capacity ready if supply increases
Summary
At the Feb. 16 Health Commission meeting, Director Grant Colfax reported COVID metrics including over 33,000 cases and 372 deaths, a case rate near 14.8 per 100,000, and vaccination figures: roughly 121,000 people with at least one dose and about 35,000 fully vaccinated (~16% of the city); city has capacity to deliver 10,000 vaccinations per day if more supply arrives.
San Francisco's Department of Public Health told the Health Commission on Feb. 16 that local COVID‑19 indicators had improved from recent peaks but remained concerning: the city had reported over 33,000 cases and 372 deaths and was at a 14.8 per 100,000 case rate, which Colfax called still in the high alert category.
Colfax emphasized the city's vaccination work: roughly 121,000 San Franciscans had received at least one vaccine dose and nearly 35,000 had completed a first and second dose series, which the presentation equated to about 16% of the city's population vaccinated. "We have now have enough capacity in San Francisco to well exceed our goal of delivering over 10,000 vaccines into arms every day. We just need more vaccine," Colfax said, urging continued supply from the state.
Nut graf: Public health leadership said the decline from a peak case rate of about 42 per 100,000 last month to the current ~14.8 per 100,000 reflects progress but not a return to low spread. Hospitalizations had declined from a holiday surge and the health system's capacity remains adequate, but officials warned the virus was still widespread and that vaccination pace is constrained by supply and some temporary site closures.
Colfax also highlighted equity in vaccination distribution: older age groups (65 and over) had received a disproportionately high share of doses compared with their population share and local clinic networks and community‑based distribution were focusing on neighborhoods with higher case burdens. He said the city had opened a third mass vaccination site in partnership with Sutter Health that could deliver about 1,000 doses per day when supply permits.
Ending: Commissioners asked follow‑up questions about site performance, outreach to restaurants for safety during Super Bowl weekend, and plans to expand eligibility (Colfax said teachers and certain essential workers were slated for Feb. 24, contingent on supply). The director said DPH will continue to prioritize high‑risk groups while pressing for additional vaccine shipments.
