More people are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, but the shortages are expected to keep tight in the coming weeks.
Such restrictions have caused the explosion of vaccines in California and across the country since the first shots were available in December, but officials have expressed optimism that the arrival of a third viable offer from Johnson & Johnson would speed up the process.
Although that will eventually be the case, officials said the shots will remain short-lived in the short term due to production delays.
Government Gavin Newsom said on Wednesday that the state “in the immediate term” does not expect to receive additional doses of the specific vaccine – which health officials see as a possible pandemic changer, as it requires only one dose and is not necessary . sent and stored at freezing point.
The next few weeks, he added, will remain a “restricted environment in terms of access to vaccines.”
Such restrictions, though always unwelcome, come at an inopportune time, as significantly more Californians could soon take their place in the vaccine.
Who is eligible now?
The state’s fitness list has already been expanded to include guardians and caretakers; public transport workers; workers on the airport’s ground crew; social workers dealing with cases of violence, abuse or neglect; and foster parents providing emergency housing to young people, according to Barbara Ferrer, director of public health in Los Angeles County.
LA County is coordinating with unions and employers to set up vaccination sites and make appointments for these new groups.
Vaccinations for guardians and domestic workers may be available for two major vaccination sites as soon as Saturday and Sunday at the Forum in Inglewood and at the LA County Office of Education in Downey.
The addition of these work sectors increases the pool of those who can be vaccinated, who are already 65 years and older, as well as essential workers in food and agriculture, education and child care, health care and emergency services.
Who’s next?
The California electoral roll will expand further Monday to include people with qualifying health conditions, such as:
- Cancer, with a current weakened immune system
- Chronic kidney disease, stage 4 or higher
- Chronic lung disease, dependent on oxygen
- Down syndrome
- Solid organ transplant, leading to a weakened immune system
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell disease
- Heart disease, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathy (but not hypertension)
- Severe obesity with a BMI of over 40
- Type 2 diabetes with an A1C level of more than 7.5%
- A disability that makes serious diseases of COVID-19 possible, or that will limit the ability of someone to receive vital care for the disease, or make the treatment of COVID-19 particularly difficult.
The state is still finalizing the list of medical conditions that will qualify people under 65 for the COVID-19 shot, Ferrer said.
But she expects hundreds of thousands of extra people in LA County will be eligible.
“Our numbers are likely to drop slightly in how many doses we get, but we’re going to have a lot more people eligible on Monday,” Ferrer said. “So, I feel bad about always asking everyone to be patient, because even though it’s your turn, it’s still going to be difficult to get appointments.”
How should they proceed?
Ferrer suggested that people with underlying conditions contact their healthcare providers to ask about the vaccination.
“The easiest way to get vaccinated is to go to your service provider, or if your service provider has a network, to get vaccinated.”
In a statement, the province added: “Providers and healthcare facilities are working to use their healthcare record systems to identify patients and reach out to them so that they can be vaccinated.”