County Supervisors Barger and Hahn Urge Flexibility in Rationing COVID-19 Shots

Los Angeles County continued to make vaccinating healthcare workers and first responders against COVID-19 its first priority, but two supervisors have called for the process to be quickly expanded to include people 65 and older.

Supervisors Janice Hahn and Kathryn Barger called on the county to expand the process as soon as possible. 

Last week Gov. Gavin Newsom called on the state to begin vaccinating its 6 million residents 65 and older. But that message only served to confuse cities still struggling to vaccinate patients and healthcare workers in senior living facilities. 

“Gov. Newsom has encouraged all counties to open up vaccination appointments,” said Hahn. “L.A. County needs to follow the state’s lead without further delay.”

But according to ABC News, Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said the county does not have enough doses of the vaccine to expand its vaccinations.

“We’re not done with our healthcare workers,” Ferrer said. “We actually don’t have enough vaccines right now to be able to get done more quickly with our healthcare workers.”

To make matters worse, the federal government announced late last week there is no reserve stockpile of vaccines. Authorities did not seem to know when more doses would be available.

According to statistics, people 65 and older should be vaccinated as soon as possible because they make up more than 70% of COVID-19-related fatalities.

“Efficient and effective distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to our residents and communities is the most critical hurdle in our ability to recover from this virus,” Barger said.

In accordance with California guidelines, the county continues to prioritize healthcare workers as mandated in Phase 1A, but “expects to complete this phase in the coming weeks, given the size and scope of the region,” Barger said.