Orange County’s second large-scale vaccination site COVID-19 will open at Soka University in Aliso Viejo on Saturday, while officials continue their efforts to lift the vaccination despite ongoing issues.
The announcement comes a week after the country launched its first vaccination center at Disneyland in Anaheim.
Eventually, the province plans to operate five centers, which according to health officials are key to the goal of getting all residents vaccinated by July 4th.
For now, only health workers, residents of long-term care institutions and people aged 65 and over are eligible to be vaccinated at the centers.
“Orange County is working 24 hours a day to make the COVID-19 vaccine available to anyone who wants it,” said Supervisor of Board of Supervisors Andrew Do in a prepared statement. “With this second vaccination center at Soka University, we can vaccinate thousands of residents every day.”
However, the rise of vaccinations is hampered by supply problems. The province is dependent on the state for its share of the vaccine doses and has asked for more daily, officials said.
The province has distributed 21,782 doses since the Disneyland website opened last week. According to Sunday, 108,812 doses were generally distributed, according to provincial data.
Ultimately, officials hope to vaccinate 7,500 to 8,000 people a day at the large-scale centers, said Dr Clayton Chau, the province’s health officer and director of the health agency, last week.
It is not clear how many doses the country has received so far. The numbers were not immediately available Thursday morning.
Other provinces in California are facing the same disturbing situation.
In San Francisco, officials warned that vaccines could run out as early as Thursday because the number of doses the city received had dropped significantly from a week ago and doses that had to be discarded had not been replaced. Because the state now approves the use of the questionable Moderna group, the city could use 8,000 doses it was forced to set aside, health officials said.
Los Angeles County received only 853,650 doses, although more than 5 million doses are needed just to vaccinate all health care workers and residents aged 65 and over.
Aside from vaccination issues, vaccination plans hit other speed bumps in Orange County this week.
The appointments of thousands who had to receive the vaccine for the first time were pushed back after the wind had to close the Disneyland site for two days.
According to a representative of the country, the appointments from Tuesday to Thursday have been rescheduled
Land officials have also temporarily stopped using a group of Moderna vaccine that may have caused allergic reactions. California’s top epidemiologist announced Wednesday that experts have “no scientific basis” for withholding the doses.
The province has also received complaints from residents who are having difficulty using the Othena website to schedule appointments.
In response, staff at the OCVID-19 and the OC Health Care Agency (714) 834-2000 vaccination helpline were trained to assist callers with the site.
“We understand that there are many residents who are eager to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and we encourage people to be patient as we work to give our limited supply of vaccine to suitable individuals,” said Vice President of the Board of Supervisors, Doug Chaffee, a statement.
Vaccines Outside Orange County Vaccines
Los Angeles County residents 65 and older can sign up for an appointment on the Department of Public Health’s website, vaccinatelacounty.com. Residents without computer access can call (833) 540-0473 between 08:00 and 20:30 for assistance with bookings.
The City of Los Angeles also offers the vaccine to anyone in Los Angeles County who is 65 years of age or older another online portal. The site connects patients to sites such as Dodger Stadium, San Fernando Recreation Park, Lincoln Park, Hansen Dam and Crenshaw Christian Center.
Ventura County offers vaccinations to residents 75 years and older, who may sign up online for appointments. Information for Riverside County residents can be found at the Riverside University Health System, while residents of San Bernardino County vaccine information on the province website.
Times authors Maura Dolan and Colleen Shalby contributed to this report.