California sees hopeful signs as counties fight for vaccines

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Vaccine supply issues continued to plague California on Tuesday even as other indicators about the spread of the coronavirus showed what the top health official called “rays of hope” amid the deadliest days of the pandemic.

San Francisco’s public health department said its likely to run out of vaccine Thursday, in part because the state pulled back on administering a batch of Moderna shots after several health workers in San Diego had a bad reaction.

The county health department received 12,000 doses last week and had expected the same amount this week, but received only 1,775.

Local hospitals including the University of California, San Francisco and Kaiser Permanente have larger supplies available. Still, “This unreliable source makes it very hard to plan,” public health director Dr. Grant Colfax said.

Sacramento County Public Health has just 975 doses allocated for this week, and area hospitals also have a short supply, leading Public Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye to call for patience.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Hilda Solis directed the county Department of Public Health to make vaccination appointments available starting Thursday to an estimated 1.3 million county residents 65 and older, despite the shortage.

“This is about equity. Older adults have been unfairly impacted by the virus,” Solis said.

The nation's most populous county opened five large-scale coronavirus vaccination sites Tuesday, with the capacity to inoculate 4,000 people at each location daily, and plans more sites in neighborhoods at locations like local schools in coming weeks.

“In the meantime, I want to urge patience,” Solis said. “We’ll get to you, and you’ll get your shot.”

LA County Department of...