CA Gears Up For Vaccine Eligibility Expansion Amid Supply Crisis

CALIFORNIA — Millions more Californians over 50 will become eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine Thursday.

But the Golden State expects to receive the same weekly number of doses that it has for the past month — about 1.8 million. And supplies will slightly bump up to 1.9 million the following week, a spokesperson for the state's Department of Public Health told Patch.

That allotment won't be enough for everyone who becomes eligible in the next two weeks, but officials predict that the vaccine crisis will finally end this spring.

The state expected to get around 2.5 million first and second doses per week in the first half of April and more than 3 million doses in the second half of the month, the state said last week. The state is also working to build out the capacity to administer 4 million vaccines weekly by the end of April.

There are more than 4.9 million people between the ages of 50 and 59 alone in California, according to CensusReporter.com.

So far, nearly 24 percent of Californians 50 to 64 have received at least one vaccine dose. More than 38 percent of residents 65 and older have received one shot, according to state data published Monday.

Most retailers offering vaccine shots — such as Rite Aid, Walgreens and CVS — are also expected to observe the change in eligibility, but it may take a few days, and supply remains a challenge.

"The change in eligibility on CVS.com may take up to 72 hours after the state’s update begins," Monica Prinzing, a spokesperson for CVS Health, told Patch. "As more supply becomes available from the federal government, our company is ready and able to expand to more locations and offer additional appointments here in California."

CVS Health has the capacity to administer 20 million to 25 million shots per month across its pharmacy locations, Prinzing added.

Beginning April 15, everyone 16 and older will be able to make an appointment for a vaccine. The supply issue is predicted to improve immensely by then.

"Positivity rates are decreasing. Hospitalizations are trending downward. And now we are expanding vaccine eligibility," Gov. Gavin Newsom's office tweeted Sunday. "The light at the end of [the] tunnel is brighter than ever."

The state recorded a 1.6 percent positivity rate on Monday, a new low for the Golden State. To date, more than 17,356,911 vaccine doses have been administered.

Since the state has maintained a lower case rate for several weeks in a row, officials are revising the coronavirus playbook while counties move from restrictive reopening tiers. Theme parks will be allowed to reopen across the state Thursday. And California last week gave a green light for graduation ceremonies to resume with modifications.

Some major events — such as the San Diego Comic-Con and the San Mateo County Fair — are announcing dates to welcome back in-person crowds in the summer and fall.

But President Joe Biden warned on Monday that coronavirus infections were rising across the country again. The president urged states to pause reopening plans and called on other states to resume mask mandates.

"This is not a time to lessen our efforts," Biden said Monday. "We could still see a setback in the vaccination program. And most importantly, if we let our guard down now, we could see a virus getting worse, not better."

Coronavirus data in California as of Monday

• California has 3,564,468 confirmed cases to date. Numbers may not represent true day-over-day change as reporting of test results can be delayed.

• There were 2,277 newly recorded confirmed cases Sunday.

• The seven-day positivity rate is 1.6 percent.

• There have been 53,558,339 tests conducted in California. That represents an increase of 217,271 during the prior 24-hour reporting period.

• There have been 57,778 COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

• Providers reported administering a total of 17,356,911 vaccine doses statewide as of March 29.