Some enterprising Californians who are not yet eligible for a coronavirus vaccine – we’re looking at you, relatively healthy 16- to 64-year-olds – are finding ways to get it anyway. And they do not lie about being health workers or dressing as senior citizens to do so.
In the coming weeks, millions more people will be eligible – including people with certain disabilities and health problems starting on Monday. But even then, most Californians will wait – perhaps until the May 1 deadline for full eligibility that President Biden would impose on Thursday.
Feeling impatient? Here are some ways in which Golden State residents who do not have access are now shooting.
Volunteer at a vaccine clinic
California allows people who are voluntarily vaccinated at vaccine clinics to be vaccinated if they work a shift of at least four hours. You also do not have to be a medical worker to volunteer. Websites need volunteers to guide people to the right place, help with registration and perform other tasks. You can sign up at myturnvolunteer.ca.gov. Volunteers will not necessarily get a chance that day if they help, but if the offer allows. Each clinic makes its own decisions about vaccinations for volunteers.
At the moment, there do not seem to be many (if any) open volunteer slots in the Bay. Emily Matthews, a spokeswoman for the state’s volunteer office, said that ‘as the vaccine supply increases, we expect more volunteer slots to be available. We encourage those who have signed up to come back regularly. ”
Bay Area Provinces also offer their own volunteer opportunities. In Santa Clara County, people who work three shifts of eight hours can be vaccinated. But the province says it is currently “on capacity” for volunteers. Contra Costa County has a similar requirement and says it will accept new volunteer applications after a break Monday. See your country for details.
Volunteer at a school
We do not suggest that you suddenly decide to help your community just to get a chance, but some provinces allow certain types of regular volunteers to be vaccinated. In the counties of San Francisco and San Mateo, people who volunteer to coach youth sports may be able to receive a vaccine. Marin also allows some coaches to be vaccinated.
“Under the banner of education and child care, staff can also become involved in aftercare and youth programs,” said Laine Hendricks, a spokeswoman for Marin. That said, a program will need to ensure they are employed. A one-time or complementary volunteer (I am a parent and sometimes help to collect the sports equipment at the end of each game) does not make the point. ‘
I got it! Not because of my essential worker status, but because of my volunteer work with schools and sports. So # grateful! # vaccinated pic.twitter.com/ygAS1L3kJA
– Andrea Nakano (@AndreaKPIX) March 9, 2021
In San Mateo County, “anyone who works personally with students may be allowed to get vaccinated,” said Patricia Love, a spokeswoman for the county’s education office.
Consult your country for details.
Join a helplist
Social media is flooded with reports of people catching leftover doses, when bail for precious appointments and vaccine cannot be followed up in ultra-cold storage. How accurate all these stories are is hard to say, and many provinces and vaccine providers say that if they have leftover doses, they should call people who are already on the schedule to get in early. But there are still some help lists and waiting lists that some people can join.
For example, UC San Francisco maintains a staff and student assistance list “given the regular availability of a few remaining doses of COVID vaccine at the end of each day.” The school requires people to report by 3pm for appointments starting a few hours later, around 7pm
Stanford Health Care also has a process of taking extra doses at the end of the day – although they say people still have to meet the requirements.
“It is available at each site for no more than ten unscheduled individuals who meet the current criteria of the state and who can return within 30 minutes of being contacted at the end of the day to receive a vaccine as an extra doses are available, “Stanford said in a statement. “We are also working on developing an automated readiness planning process.”
Subscribe to a service that matches the vaccine
A New York-based company called Dr. B helps provide vaccine providers who have extra doses in people who are looking for a chance and can drop everything and get it fast. It does not appear that many providers still use the service, but the New York Times recently reported that hundreds of thousands of people saw the opportunity for a provider near them to appeal to willing vaccine recipients.
Be at the right pharmacy at the right time
Recently, a San Mateo woman said she was able to get a vaccine from a nearby CVS when they had a few extra doses at the end of the day and reached out to her, knowing that she experiencing health problems that make her vulnerable.
In a statement, a CVS spokesperson said: ‘In the case of unused doses in our pharmacies, our pharmacy teams will evaluate how to vaccinate suitable individuals with the remaining doses effectively. This includes reaching out to eligible patients in their communities, as our pharmacies maintain patient profiles with information that can help identify who is eligible to be vaccinated. ”
Although there are reports of people visiting the drug stores in the area as the sun sets to get a popular shot, pharmacies and health officials have encouraged people not to try the way to get a vaccine.