The chances of getting the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine are high next week in Los Angeles County, as an ongoing stock crisis and a tight queue of those needing a second shot will provide few opportunities for those who want to start vaccinations, a top health official said Friday.
According to dr. Paul Simon, chief scientific officer for the Department of Public Health in LA, said most appointments at the most important vaccination sites run by the province are needed for second doses. At the province’s five mega-PODs, or mass distribution points, only a very limited number of people will be able to receive their first doses on Monday.
“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. ‘
In view of limited and inconsistent supplies, the province is holding adequate doses to ensure that there is enough for everyone who has already received the first uptake of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.
Both vaccines require two shots, which are administered three and four weeks apart, respectively.
As a result, residents receiving their initial dose should be back in line weeks later. When the total vaccine supply in the province remains low or low, it leaves little room for maneuver to offer first doses as well.
In LA County, 193,950 doses arrived the week of January 11, but only 168,575 were delivered the following week and 146,225 the week after.
Provincial officials said 184,625 doses had arrived this week. Although a boost from last week’s total needs to be boosted, shipments need to be much larger to stay in demand and allow additional pools of Angelenos to receive their first shots.
“If we continue to receive more stock, we will of course be able to expand and offer the first dose,” Simon said. “We definitely want to do that.”
Cumulatively, more than 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine were administered in LA County, and nearly 850,000 people – or about 11% of the population aged 16 and older – received the first doses. About 2.6% of Angelenos in that age group are fully vaccinated.
The bottleneck is not unique to LA County. Regions in California reported similar problems and had to take similar steps to ensure people did not miss the second shots.
First-dose clinics were suspended in Napa County as officials overtook the second vaccinations.
“While it’s surprising that the vaccine is here now, we just do not have enough of it,” said Dr. Karen Relucio, a public health officer in Napa County. ‘Stocks are unpredictable. We walk on thin margins. ”
To date, more than 4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered throughout California.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 7 million doses of the vaccine have been shipped, and 6.8 million have been delivered to health care providers in the state. This means that almost 62% of the available supply has been used.
Officials said the state expects an allocation of more than 1 million doses and a similar amount next week. Previously, the state was allocated about 300,000 to 500,000 doses per week.
The supply, although increasing, remains low compared to what is needed, and the suitability is limited. California health departments can currently administer vaccines to health workers, first responders, staff, and residents at long-term care facilities such as nursing homes and adults who are at least 65 years old.
They also have the option of handing out doses to those working in the fields of education, emergency services and food and agriculture, but many provinces have not yet been eligible for the groups, given the restrictions on supply.
For example, LA County only accepts appointments for health care workers, residents of long-term care facilities, and adults who are at least 65 years old.
Together, the groups consist of about 2 million people, which means that 4 million doses are needed to fully vaccinate those who are currently eligible – to say nothing of the millions of other Angelenos who have yet to be vaccinated.
“Unfortunately, the biggest problem we still face in our ability to vaccinate is a scarce supply and volatility in the amount of vaccines we receive from week to week,” Simon said. “It was a countrywide problem and it makes planning very challenging.”
Times staff writer Faith E. Pinho contributed to this report.