Some LA County residents who were scheduled to receive their first COVID-19 vaccine shot will have to wait longer after officials withdrew a few doses allocated to Ralphs pharmacies.
The LA County Department of Public Health, which is acting at the request of the California Department of Public Health, has recovered 10,000 doses from Ralphs pharmacies intended for upcoming appointments, supermarket chain officials said.
The doses will instead be used to support the country’s mega-PODS ‘, or mass vaccination sites. Residents with appointments were notified of the change via phone calls and emails Thursday.
The situation underscores the serious lack of vaccine availability as the province seeks to vaccinate health workers, first responders and people aged 65 and over. Since so many people now need their second dose, there is less vaccine available for those who need their first dose.
Ralphs spokesman John Votava said only people seeking their first dose would be affected and those planning to get their second dose would still get their shots. LA County health officials could not be immediately reached for comment.
“We are balancing to be part of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution solution while striving to be a good partner with public health departments in Southern California,” Votava said.
Ralphs’ message told people that their appointments could be “possibly four weeks or longer” delayed, depending on future delivery of doses out of the country or directly from the state. People can keep their place in the queue or explore other dating opportunities, he said.
The news comes as the province scrambles to meet the staggering demand for doses as it devises plans to open new vaccination sites in suspected areas.
For residents looking forward to receiving their vaccine, it has been a significant blow.
“They may not take doses in pharmacies,” asked Joy, a West LA resident, saying her surname was not being used.
Joy’s mother, in her 70s, has already received her first dose of Ralphs and is awaiting her follow-up appointment.
“We are told to get the second dose from the original provider, but now it seems impossible or at least very delayed,” she said.
More than 40 Ralphs pharmacy locations are listed as vaccination sites in the country. Votava said only first-dose containers at 37 locations received emails about the change, but that it was possible that some people receiving the message would plan more than one first appointment.
“Everyone who has received their first dose is guaranteed a second dose and they will be contacted directly by our pharmacy to plan the second dose closer to their vaccination time frame,” he said.
The lack of clarity has led to confusion and anxiety for several people, especially elderly people over 65 who are eligible for the vaccine in the first phase of the province.
“An appointment does not even guarantee it now,” LA resident Steve Kosareff wrote on Twitter.
Kosareff said he scheduled his first shot with Ralphs a few weeks ago. After receiving the cancellation notice, he searched in vain for his healthcare provider and in Dodger Stadium.
“It seems like there will be nothing available for weeks if not months,” he said.
According to the state’s vaccination panel, 735,000 doses of vaccines were administered in Los Angeles County, and 2.8 million in the state.
Melissa Hill, a spokeswoman for the Albertsons supermarket chain – which also helps distribute vaccines in Los Angeles – said pharmacies had not received a similar request from the country.
Staff Writer Jessica Roy contributed to this report.