Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
California Taking More Control Over Vaccine Delivery After Complaints
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 4 years ago on
January 26, 2021

Share

Facing widespread criticism for its slow vaccine rollout, California is revamping its delivery system mid-stride by centralizing its hodgepodge of county systems and streamlining appointment sign-up, notification, and eligibility for its 40 million residents.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday named Yolanda Richardson as secretary of the government operations agency that will spearhead operations and delivery, the state announced in advance of a noon news briefing. Richardson will work with private third party administrators, as yet unnamed, to decide where the state’s supply of vaccine should go as the federal supply ramps up to meet demand.

The change means counties and hospital networks — which have been scheduling appointments and determining eligibility under broad state guidance — will move at a more uniform pace. Residents have been baffled by the varying systems as some counties will vaccinate people 65 and older while others are limited to the more restrictive 75 and up.

“Our state and county public health leaders have done the important groundwork to get California’s vaccination plan up and running and we are grateful to them and will continue to partner with them,” said Newsom. “We have learned that to accelerate pace we need to dial up the scale of our efforts to ensure vaccine supply goes into arms as quickly as it arrives in the state.”

California has been dinged for vaccinating so few people even amid a national vaccine shortage that appears to be the main limiting factor. It has administered more than 2.4 million of 4.5 million doses shipped.

It wasn’t immediately clear how the change will affect giant vaccination sites at places like LA’s Dodger Stadium and Disneyland, which have been inoculating thousands of people a day. It’s also unclear how the move will affect people who have received first doses but still require second shots.

On Monday, Newsom Caught Counties by Surprise When He Abruptly Lifted Stay-Home Orders

California has said healthcare, education and childcare, emergency service and food and agriculture workers, as well as anyone 65 and older, are eligible for vaccines.

The third party administrator or administrators will allocate vaccines directly to providers, which will include county public health systems, pharmacies, health systems, public hospitals, community health centers, pharmacies and pop-up sites.

Dr. Chris Farnitano, health officer for Contra Costa county, said they’re seeking details about the new arrangement, but expects county public health offices to continue playing a major role. Counties know the makeup of its residents best, and provide health care to people who lack insurance or who are underinsured.

“The local health departments are still going to be the main on the ground provider of vaccine to the community. Hopefully, this will be better coordination at the state level and maybe bringing in additional partners,” he said.

On Monday, Newsom caught counties by surprise when he abruptly lifted stay-home orders that covered much of the state.

The state has also launched a website called “My Turn” where people can sign up to be notified when they are eligible for a vaccine and to schedule appointments.

More people will become eligible for vaccines in the future based on age, the state health agency said in a statement.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Saints GM and Coach Signal They Plan to Stick With QB Derek Carr

DON'T MISS

Hamas Hands Over to Red Cross 4 Dead Hostages From Gaza, as Palestinians Leave Israeli Prison

DON'T MISS

Wired Wednesday: What’s Behind the Massive Bee Colony Collapse?

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Repeat Drunk Driver Sentenced to 15 Years to Life for Fatal Crash

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Officer: City Retaliates After I Blew Whistle on Balderrama

DON'T MISS

Trump Administration Cutting 90% of USAID Foreign Aid Contracts, Documents Show

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police to Conduct Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Saturday

DON'T MISS

It’s Official: Horse Racing Out at The Big Fresno Fair for 2025

DON'T MISS

Mass Federal Firings May Imperil Crops, Cattle and Pets

DON'T MISS

Newsom Orders Parole Board to Investigate if Menendez Brothers Would Pose Risk if Freed

UP NEXT

Michelle Trachtenberg, ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and ‘Harriet the Spy’ Star, Dies at at 39

UP NEXT

7 Takeaways From a Deep Dive Into California’s Homeless Shelters

UP NEXT

Washington Post Opinion Editor Exits as Bezos Steers Pages in New Direction

UP NEXT

Trump Wants to Sell ‘Gold Cards’ to Wealthy Immigrants for $5M

UP NEXT

Trump’s Deportation Rates Lower Than Biden’s, but Expected to Rise

UP NEXT

White House Says It ‘Will Decide’ Which News Outlets Cover Trump, Rotating Some Traditional Ones

UP NEXT

California Judge Testifies That He Accidentally Shot and Killed His Wife

UP NEXT

CA Senator Wants to Expand School Summer Meal Programs to Families

UP NEXT

Conservative Pundit, ex-Secret Service Agent Dan Bongino Picked as FBI Deputy Director

UP NEXT

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Drifts After Last Week’s Tumble

Fresno County Repeat Drunk Driver Sentenced to 15 Years to Life for Fatal Crash

6 hours ago

Fresno Police Officer: City Retaliates After I Blew Whistle on Balderrama

6 hours ago

Trump Administration Cutting 90% of USAID Foreign Aid Contracts, Documents Show

7 hours ago

Fresno Police to Conduct Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Saturday

8 hours ago

It’s Official: Horse Racing Out at The Big Fresno Fair for 2025

8 hours ago

Mass Federal Firings May Imperil Crops, Cattle and Pets

8 hours ago

Newsom Orders Parole Board to Investigate if Menendez Brothers Would Pose Risk if Freed

8 hours ago

Trump Faces Backlash for Sharing Controversial AI Video of Gaza

9 hours ago

$3M Donation to Valley Children’s Aids Cancer Survivors, Kids With Disabilities

9 hours ago

District 5 Forum: Candidates on Eviction Protection, Rent Control & Guaranteed Income Program

9 hours ago

Saints GM and Coach Signal They Plan to Stick With QB Derek Carr

INDIANAPOLIS— New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis sees 11-year veteran quarterback Derek Carr as “a guy we can win with, and we...

5 hours ago

5 hours ago

Saints GM and Coach Signal They Plan to Stick With QB Derek Carr

Israelis gather on the side of a road where the funeral convoy carrying the coffins of slain hostages Shiri Bibas and her two children, Ariel and Kfir, will pass by near Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, Israel, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. The mother and her two children were abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, and their remains were returned from Gaza to Israel last week as part of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. (AP/Maya Alleruzzo)
6 hours ago

Hamas Hands Over to Red Cross 4 Dead Hostages From Gaza, as Palestinians Leave Israeli Prison

6 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: What’s Behind the Massive Bee Colony Collapse?

6 hours ago

Fresno County Repeat Drunk Driver Sentenced to 15 Years to Life for Fatal Crash

6 hours ago

Fresno Police Officer: City Retaliates After I Blew Whistle on Balderrama

Demonstrators protest against cuts to American foreign aid spending, including USAID and the PEPFAR program to combat HIV/AIDS, at the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
7 hours ago

Trump Administration Cutting 90% of USAID Foreign Aid Contracts, Documents Show

8 hours ago

Fresno Police to Conduct Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Saturday

8 hours ago

It’s Official: Horse Racing Out at The Big Fresno Fair for 2025

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend