Weeks into California’s mass vaccination plan, we’m far behind schedule. Of the approximately 2 million doses distributed, only about 650,000 were injected into the arms of state residents, according to Friday’s data from the California Department of Public Health.
Faced with criticism, officials are now moving to expand access. This week, they began offering vaccines to the next two levels of eligible recipients – in addition to hospital staff to a wider range of healthcare professionals, such as people working in specialty clinics, dental clinics and pharmacies.
As early as next week, dentists will be offered a four-hour online training course on how to administer the shot.
Meanwhile, President-elect Joe Biden announced on Friday that his administration will release almost all available vaccine doses when he takes office later this month, rather than withholding supplies for a second dose. Currently, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been approved for use.
Here’s a look at the process and when you can expect to be vaccinated.
Who gets the vaccine now?
We are currently in Phase 1A and delivering the vaccine to health workers and residents of long-term care facilities. Phase 1A has three levels; provinces move at different speeds through these levels, depending on local demand and supply.
Level 1: hospitals for acute care, psychiatric and correctional facilities; staff and residents of competent nursing and assistance facilities; paramedics, emergency medical technicians and dialysis centers.
Level 2: Intermediate care facilities; home health care; community health workers; public health workers; primary care clinics; correctional facilities, rural clinics and urgent care facilities.
Level 3: other institutions and healthcare workers, including specialist clinics, laboratory workers, dental and oral health clinics, and pharmacy staff not covered in higher levels.
This phase of vaccination is relatively easy because employers simply notify their staff. Staff can be easily identified by professional licenses, worker badges or pay stubs.
The majority of doses for residents of skilled nursing and care facilities are distributed through the federal government pharmacist program, not through the state, although some counties have opted out of the program. CVS or Walgreens communicate directly with each facility.
Who gets the vaccine next?
The next step is phase 1B, which is likely to start in early February. The hope is that everyone in this phase will be offered at least one dose by the end of March. Phase 1B has two levels:
Level 1: Anyone 75 years and older; workers in education and childcare; emergency services workers (firefighters, police and correctional officers); workers in food and agriculture, including workers in grocery stores.
Level 2: Anyone 65 years and older; workers in transport / logistics; industrial, residential and commercial shelter facilities / services; critical manufacturing; captive individuals; homeless.
When the vaccine is available for these groups, it is likely to be given by doctors and health plans, primary care clinics, pharmacies, some workplaces and special vaccination sites run by provincial departments of public health and other community partners.
If you are eligible based on your age, you can take out your doctor or health plan. Kaiser, for example, will qualify members and offer an appointment. Local health departments say they will seek out older adults by working with community groups and retirement communities.
If you are eligible based on your occupation – education, agriculture and food services – your employer can notify you. Doctors cannot make the decision because they do not keep information about the profession. Provincial health departments will communicate with employers regarding access to mass vaccination sites. Some employers may run their own vaccination campaigns.
People who are locked up will be reached by correctional officers. People at homeless shelters will be vaccinated by ‘strike teams’ or at mass vaccination sites run by provincial health departments.
Who’s after that?
Phase 1C comes next. There is no estimated start date for vaccinating this group yet, but officials plan to offer at least one dose of vaccine to everyone by the end of April or early May.
This group includes anyone aged 50 or older and anyone aged 16 to 49 at high risk due to disability or underlying medical conditions and / or disability (cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, organ transplantation, obesity, pregnancy , sickle cell disease, smoking and type 2 diabetes mellitus).
This group also includes workers in water and waste management; defense; energy; communication and information technology; financial services; chemicals / hazardous materials; government activities or community service.
These groups receive vaccinations from doctors and health plans, primary care clinics, pharmacies, some workplaces and special vaccination sites managed by provincial departments of public health and other community partners.
What about the rest of us?
Phase 2 has just been proposed and is likely to change before the estimated start date of spring 2021.
This is likely to include the staff and residents of community institutions and group homes for people with disabilities or severe mental illness, as well as people at moderate risk due to underlying health conditions.
As the stock expands, it will also include the general population, children and workers not covered in Phase 1.
How do I know if I am eligible?
Call the state’s COVID-19 hotline: 1-833-422-4255 (8:00 to 20:00 Monday – Friday; 08:00 to 17:00 Saturday and Sunday). The hotline will provide general suitability information in Phases 1A, 1B and 1C. Give your age and a description of the type of work you do.
I’m a veteran. Where am I going?
Like the state, the Veterans Administration also has a phase plan. It currently offers vaccines for these three groups: veterans living in long-term care facilities, veterans with spinal cord injuries, and VA health care staff.
Upon completion of these groups, the VA will begin offering vaccines to veterans at high risk for serious illness due to age or health, based on federal criteria.
If you are a veteran eligible to receive a vaccine, your VA health care team will contact you.
Do vulnerable communities receive special assistance?
Using the California Healthy Places Index, an online tool that measures life expectancy and living conditions across the state, health officials aim to track vaccination rates among communities and target inferior neighborhoods and rural areas.
How fast does the vaccine protect me?
It usually takes a few weeks before the body builds up immunity after vaccination. This means that someone could possibly become infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just after vaccination and still get sick. It is not known how long immunity is induced, but after COVID-19 infections most people have a robust immune response that lasts at least 8 months.
What else is in store?
Both Johnson and Johnson and AstraZeneca are likely to receive results from their US COVID-19 vaccine trial by the end of January. If all goes well, they will ask for emergency permission in February.
The overall efficacy of these two vaccines to prevent infection is lower than that of the Pfizer and Modern vaccines. But it has other benefits. Both vaccines are easier to store because they do not need to be frozen. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a single dose, which simplifies administration.
Currently you do not have the choice of a vaccine. But if there are several available, this may change, because some people prefer the photos with higher efficiency – or one shot, for simpler.