Certain essential workers in Los Angeles County, including teachers, will be eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations from March 1, but will likely face competition because supplies are expected to be limited.
The next pool of eligible Angelenos includes educators and child care workers; food and agricultural workers, including employees of grocery stores; and law enforcement and other emergencies.
“We expect to open many different sites on March 1 and set up special, what we call closed sites for all of these sectors,” Barbara Ferrer, director of public health in LA County, said during an information session.
More than 1.3 million people fall into the groups. About 2.2 million people in LA County who work in health care, live in long-term care institutions, or are 65 years and older can already be vaccinated.
Given the large number of people who have to get their shots fired, ‘we will all still have to have a lot of patience here,’ Ferrer said.
This is especially the case since LA County, like the state and the nation, still runs frustrating limits when it comes to vaccine supplies.
Last week, LA County received 219,700 doses – its largest shipment to date, but still a relative drop in the bucket for a country of about 10 million people.
Both available vaccines, one from Pfizer-BioNTech and the other from Moderna, require two shots, three and four weeks apart respectively.
In view of the scarce supplies, the province had to limit how many people could receive initial doses to ensure they could get their second shots on time.
But Ferrer said the province will be able to work much of the queue early next month.
“This will enable us to take doses that are now for a second dose of appointments, and put them back in the community for appointments in the first dose,” she said. “And it allows us to have a lot more doses available because we increase the fitness for those who can get vaccinated.”
To date, more than 1.5 million vaccine doses have been administered in the country, according to the California Department of Public Health.
About 38% of LA County residents 65 and older – about 537,895 out of more than 1.4 million people – received their first vaccine dose, provincial supervisor Hilda Solis said Tuesday.
“Right now, our biggest constraint is the provision of vaccine,” she said. ‘And as we move forward, more residents can be vaccinated. It is critical that the province receives more vaccines to meet the significant demand. ”
LA County is not alone in fighting vaccine shortages or stockpiling available supplies for second doses. Health officials across the country have experienced similar restrictions.
The issue is expected to continue this week.
“Our city has the tools, the infrastructure and the determination to vaccinate Angelenos quickly and safely – we simply need more doses,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement Monday.
According to a public health statement Sunday, San Francisco was forced to temporarily suspend operations at its vaccination staff at Moscone Center and City College.
And the pool of those eligible to be vaccinated will widen further next month. As of March 15, people aged 16 to 64 who are disabled or at high risk for COVID-19 disease and death can receive vaccinations in California, which will increase the total number of residents who can get the shots to 17 million to 20 million. .
But officials warn it will be difficult to get a chance until more stock is available.
Times author Colleen Shalby contributed to this report.