California provinces are finally getting more COVID-19 vaccines.
Despite this, it becomes more difficult to get a first dose. This is because large quantities of the new stock are reserved for people who need their second dose, leaving fewer shots for everyone who qualifies.
Here are some things to know:
Where do we stand with vaccines?
Los Angeles County, the most populous state in the country, has seen wild vaccination over the past month, making it difficult for officials to accurately pinpoint the amount of supplies they will have. About 193,950 doses arrived the week of January 11, but the following week 168,575 were delivered and only the week after that, 137,725 arrived there.
The province recently received 184,625 doses – a number that is expected to rise to more than 218,000 this week.
LA is not alone for a long time in singing the vaccine blues. California officials deplore the limited and varying number of vaccines they have received and say they have the ability to deliver significantly more shots.
“We can not move fast enough,” Governor Gavin Newsom said Monday. “We are sober and pay attention to the scarcity of the number of vaccines available.”
Officials say they will be able to provide more first doses when they start getting bigger, more sustainable shipments.
How much of the vaccine is reserved for second doses?
LA County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer said Monday that about 55% of the doses expected this week are needed for second shots – needed a few weeks after people first rolled up their sleeves.
Provincial officials have already said they will do so restrict for the administration of second doses for the rest of the week from Tuesday at a handful of important vaccination rooms: the Fairplex in Pomona, the Forum in Inglewood, the County of Education in Downey, Northern State Calridge, El Sereno, Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia and Balboa Sports Complex in Encino.
Although the province is committed to providing second doses as close as possible to the recommended range – three weeks for Pfizer-BioNTech and four weeks for Moderna – Ferrer acknowledged that ‘it is difficult to have a vaccination program with so much volatility in the weekly to manage awards. . ”
Dr. Paul Simon, chief science officer of the LA County Department of Public Health, said last week that only a very limited number of people will be able to receive their first doses in the country’s five mega-PODs or mass points this week. distribution.
“We are just struggling with the supply, the limited supply and feel compelled to make sure that people who have had a first dose can get their second dose,” he said during a briefing.
‘But we know, just based on the numbers, we really need to stick to the second doses next week, at least on our websites, beyond Monday. If we come next week, it may be a little different if we can get a larger amount of vaccine. But we will have to wait and see. ‘
Is this the right approach?
With the shortage, there has been considerable public discussion about whether officials should shift their focus to giving first doses to as many people as possible, rather than labeling precious supplies to administer a second dose on time.
The idea is that even one shot provides some protection against COVID-19. Officials said that if it is not feasible to adhere to the recommended schedule, the administration of the second dose can be done within six weeks after the first in extremely rare circumstances.
But federal officials agree that the second dose should be delivered as close as possible to the recommended time.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top expert of the US government on infectious diseases, said on Monday that the two-dose regimen unlocks the full benefits of the vaccine. While the first dose provides some protection, the second dose multiplies the protection level by a factor of 10.
This is not only important ‘because of the height of the reaction and the strength of the reaction, but as you get to the level of antibody, you get a bigger reaction,’ he said during an information session of the COVID-19- response team in the White House said. . “And by the breadth of the response, we mean that it covers not only the … currently circulating virus, but also the variants we see circulating.”
What are the latest rules on admission?
Currently, California discusses doses only for people 65 years and older, as well as medical workers and first responders.
It will take months to vaccinate these groups, but there are many debates about who will go next.
Trade unions, disability rights groups, teachers and others all make their case. The state’s advisory committee for 60 vaccines has spent weeks on the matter and can decide this week.
But on Monday, Newsom indicated that the details were still being erased and that he and dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the department of health and human services, is committed to devising a plan by the end of the week.
Last month, Newsom said that after the state vaccinated individuals aged 65 and older and health workers, the deployment plan would change to an age-based fitness approach – an announcement that lacked clarity and caused widespread confusion. Newsom said Monday that the age plan refers to adults 65 and older who are eligible for the vaccine.
Focusing on the elderly, the disabled and others at risk of becoming seriously ill with the coronavirus can save many lives. Discussing doses for essential workers can slow the spread of the disease. And to move teachers to a higher position, teachers may be willing to return to campus for personal tutoring.
At an advisory meeting last week, members of the smaller group responsible for drafting the state’s information guidelines said new recommendations would be put forward after meetings Friday between the working group and a new state task force.
The state task force, made up of members of the departments of Aging, Disability Services and Health and Human Services, was recently launched to look at the logistics for how residents with disabilities and underlying health conditions can get next priority.
State guidelines give local officials some discretion over those who should prioritize the following – and these options include teachers. As a result, some local health agencies have begun accepting appointments to vaccinate teachers and other leading educators, including Riverside County and the city of Long Beach – which has its own local health department independent of LA County.