Coronavirus Vaccines Scarce; San Mateo Co. Prioritizes Adults 65+

BAY AREA, CA — Health officials in San Mateo County and seven other counties in the Bay Area are currently prioritizing older adults for the coronavirus vaccine.

Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties will prioritize people 65 years and older, while Marin, Napa, Santa Cruz and Solano counties will prioritize those 75 years and older.

Health officials said in a joint news release that this latest move comes as vaccine supplies remain limited, while older adults are most likely to die due to COVID-19.

Eight in 10 COVID-19-related deaths in San Mateo County have been among residents ages 65 and older.

High-priority health workers — many of whom will receive a second dose of the coronavirus vaccine soon — will also continue to receive priority for vaccination.

Vaccine shipments have slowed in recent weeks. The Bay Area has nowhere near enough vaccines needed to fully vaccinate these groups, let alone to move on to educators, emergency services workers, and food and agriculture workers, according to the news release.

"With the current pace of supply, it will take several weeks to offer a first dose to all older adults who would like to be vaccinated," county health officers said in the news release.

This limited supply has led to the cancelation of some vaccination appointments, while others have been unable to schedule appointments.

Some have had their appointments for a second dose postponed, according to the news release. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that people can go up to six weeks between vaccinations, if necessary.