The Riverside County vaccination is hampered by people who are not eligible for appointment, health officials say

RIVERSIDE, California (KABC) – The health care workers and those eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine were folded outside the clinic outside Riversdale on Wednesday morning. Some people said they had to wait longer than an hour and a half.

“What’s the point of making an appointment if we all have to wait in this queue,” said one Temecula resident whose mother tried to sign up for an appointment online, only to hear that she was on a waiting list was placed and had to register again later.

“It seems like it’s an ongoing story going from federal to state to local government, but just poorly equipped and unprepared to deal with this pandemic,” the Temecula resident added.

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According to public health officials in Riverside County, part of the problem is that many who did sign up online were not eligible based on the current level.

“As the vaccine clinics open, we get people in the appointment slots who do not qualify,” said Dr. Geoffrey Leung of the Riverside University Health System said.

Riverside County is increasing the availability of vaccines, as the state of California has now considered someone 65 years and older for it. This afternoon, health officials from the province from Thursday announced clinics at places like Corona High School. These facilities only offer vaccines by appointment, which must be done on the website for the distribution of vaccines.

But dr. Leung said partnerships with pharmacies would be needed to make the vaccine more widely available.

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“We think the only way we can vaccinate people in such a short period of time is with everyone’s help and partnership,” Leung said.

Meanwhile, pharmacies say they are ready to distribute the vaccine on a wider basis. Many pharmacies in California receive their first shipments of the vaccine on Thursday.

“There’s a pharmacy within 90 miles of the Americans,” said Steve Anderson, president of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. “Pharmacies have the ability to meet the demand for 100 million vaccine doses within one month.”