March 4, 2021
CalOptima Provides COVID-19 Vaccines for
CalOptima's PACE Participants
Offering COVID-19 vaccines to CalOptima’s Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) participants was a top priority given their high-risk medical conditions.

At a vaccine event held on Saturday, February 27, PACE participants expressed appreciation and emotions of joy and relief as they received their second vaccine dose. Now, 273 PACE participants and 50 staff are fully vaccinated.
CalOptima Web Resources
As we continue to monitor the rapidly changing situation surrounding COVID-19, CalOptima remains ready to respond to our members' needs. For CalOptima-specific updates on COVID-19 and frequently asked questions, please visit our website by clicking here. The website features information about telehealth and the COVID-19 vaccine.

Members can also register and sign into their member portal to review their personal information and do things like print a temporary member ID card and change primary care providers or health networks. The CalOptima member portal is a secure online website allowing 24-hour access to CalOptima. Members can access web resources from the safety of their home, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
County PODs Schedule
The Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) is allocating COVID-19 vaccines as they become available to ensure equitable distribution. To access the updated COVID-19 Vaccine PODs schedule, click here.
Vaccine Distribution for School Employees
On March 1, all school-based employees became eligible for the vaccines — transitional kindergarten–12, public, private and charter schools — in Orange County. The Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) collaborated with the OC HCA to open the county’s first education-specific POD at a Garden Grove Unified campus. OCDE is working with local school districts to set up additional PODs and expects to have seven school-based PODs up and running by mid-April.


As these new PODs come online, educators and support staff will be able to receive vaccinations at any location as long as they have an appointment. For the education-specific PODs, OCDE will help school employees with the process of registering through Othena. Once appointments are confirmed, the school-based employees must bring a current paycheck stub showing proof of employment with an Orange County school or district, along with a valid driver’s license or state-issued I.D. that has their date of birth.

Click here to learn more about the vaccine distribution for school employees.
COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Channels
County Super PODS and mobile clinics are not the only options to receive a vaccination. Other health care providers approved to dispense the vaccine, including hospitals, pharmacies and health clinics, also play an essential role in vaccinating everyone in California who needs and requests vaccination.

Click here to access the county’s distribution channel webpage. The site includes links to all providers administering vaccines and how to get appointments.
Testing of Persons Who Are Fully Vaccinated
Fully vaccinated persons who develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should be tested and isolated pending results.

For the CDC’s recommendations of vaccinated persons, click here. 
UCI Conducts Research Study
The University of California, Irvine Public Health and Pediatrics is recruiting parents and their middle and/or high school children for a focus group (research study) about parental and child decision-making about the COVID-19 vaccine. To participate in the study, contact project study coordinator Emilia Fields at 714-681-2062 or fieldse@uci.edu.
CalOptima Regulatory Alerts
Due to the rapidly changing situation surrounding COVID-19, CalOptima posts a roundup of federal/state rules, guidance and news related to COVID-19. It will be updated frequently.
 
Below are the recent COVID-19 Regulatory Highlights:

  • CDPH SNF Conference Call Notification Weekly COVID-19 Update Call Notes (posted 2/22/21)
  • CMS Opportunities to maximize COVID-19 Vaccinations Among Dually Eligible Individuals (posted 2/19/21)
  • CDPH HCF Conference Call Notification Weekly COVID-19 Update Call Notes (posted 2/19/21)

Providers and other health care professionals with questions can call CalOptima's Provider Relations department at 714-246-8600 or email providerservices@caloptima.org.
How to Contact CalOptima During the COVID-19 Pandemic
CalOptima Customer Service remains ready to respond to member needs. Members can call Customer Service from the safety of their home, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have staff who speak their language.

  • Medi-Cal toll-free: 1-888-587-8088
  • OneCare Connect toll-free: 1-855-705-8823
  • OneCare toll-free: 1-877-412-2734
  • TTY 711
  • PACE: 1-714-468-1100; toll-free: 1-855-785-2584
  • PACE TTY: 1-714-468-1063

Our buildings are closed to members, but we are continuing to serve our members through our Customer Service phone lines, as we adhere to guidelines to reduce the possibility of COVID-19 transmission.

CalOptima
505 City Parkway West
Orange, CA 92868
 
Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
13300 Garden Grove Blvd.
Garden Grove, CA 92843
 
County Community Service Center
15496 Magnolia Street, Suite 111
Westminster, CA 92610
(Limited community partners are providing services on-site. CalOptima services are being provided remotely to ensure the safety of our members and employees.)

For CalOptima-specific updates on COVID-19, please visit our home page at www.caloptima.org.

National information can be found on the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) website at www.coronavirus.gov and local information can be found at the Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) website at www.occovid19.ochealthinfo.com.
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