The distribution of vaccines follows a set of priority phases and levels as set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and government officials and local officials, with health workers at the top of the priority list, known as Phase. 1A. There are three “levels” within the phase that cover different categories of medical workers and frontline responses.
Los Angeles County, for example, is in the middle phase of Phase 1A.
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The California Department of Public Health’s revised guidelines have been issued in hopes of accelerating the pace of COVID-19 administration. ” Government Gavin Newsom noted earlier this week that only about one-third of the vaccine doses received by the state were actually administered.
The guidelines clear health departments to immediately expand the distribution of the vaccine in all three levels of the initial phase. The move immediately makes the vaccine available to health professionals in areas such as optometry clinics, dental facilities, occupational health, pharmacies, school centers and specialty clinics.
Health departments were also advised to take into account the likelihood of some vaccination attempts that some people in higher priority groups would take the shots. Once agencies have completed the effort to offer the vaccine to everyone in Phase 1A, they can move on to Phase 1B.
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County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said this week that she expects it to take until the end of the month to complete the distribution to everyone in Phase 1A. Distribution will then move to Phase 1B, starting with everyone aged 75 and over and high-risk workers, such as employees in education, food, agriculture, childcare and emergency services.
According to the Los Angeles Times, less than 600,000 doses have been administered in California, with a population of nearly 40 million people.
Ferrer said the country had received more than 185,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine since Monday and that more than 100,000 had been administered. The country also received 166,300 doses of the Moderna vaccine, but only 31,915 doses were administered. She said there has been a delay in reporting on the vaccination data, so the rates were likely to be higher.
Healthcare workers in the country can register for vaccinations before vaccination at http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/vaccine/hcwsignup/.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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