California relaxes vaccine eligibility rules.

California, facing its worst wave of coronavirus infections to date, is relaxing its vaccination protocol in a bid to avoid wasting Covid-19 vaccines.

The state health department has broadened its definition of health care workers. It now includes community health workers, public health field staff and people who work in primary care clinics, specialty clinics, and dental clinics, as well as laboratory workers and pharmacy staff. .

If additional vaccines remain or doses are about to expire, people working in education, child care, emergency services and food farming will also be eligible, the said. State.

According to a New York Times database, only 1.3% of the state’s population – 528,173 people – received an injection. California wants to administer vaccines to a million more people over the next 10 days.

California reported 36,672 new cases of Covid-19 and 554 new deaths on Wednesday, according to a New York Times database.

The change in vaccine rules came days after a failed freezer at a northern California hospital stocking 830 doses of Moderna vaccine, leaving hospital staff to scramble to use up the doses before they do not expire without violating protocols.

Across the country, vaccine distribution efforts have proceeded at a breakneck pace.

In Florida, amid concerns over a turbulent deployment, Gov. Ron DeSantis visited two vaccination sites Thursday to speak to the state’s large elderly population about when they would receive the coveted vaccines.

Florida had vaccinated nearly 2% of its population – just over 400,000 people – as of Thursday.

State officials have prioritized health workers and residents of long-term care facilities in their immunization plans. But the deployment was bumpy.

Local media reported on Tuesday that older residents had camped in endless lines at Daytona Stadium to be photographed. The wait would have lasted 12 hours or more.

Dr Nicole M. Iovine, epidemiological manager at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, said the high demand was “a good problem to have”. The state’s ability to speed up its distribution will largely depend on the number of doses available, she said.

“Given all the complexities of what’s going on here, I think we are headed in the right direction,” Dr Iovine said. “Help is coming, the vaccine is coming, and as hard as it is to say, ‘Be patient’, this is really the message we need to get out.”