Here’s why California might not extend vaccine eligibility for another month

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) – State health officials are increasingly indicating that California will not advance to the next level of COVID vaccine eligibility for at least a month.

This means Californians over 50 or those in jobs deemed essential may have to wait weeks longer to get even a first dose of protection.

“It’s too early to tell,” said Dr. Tomas Aragon, director of the California Department of Public Health. “We’re going to look at the offer, we’ve got analysts projecting all of this, and we’re going to see how many people get vaccinated. It really helps determine when we make the next announcement.”

RELATED: California Vaccine Expansion Begins Monday, But Rift Could Leave Room For People To Skip The Line

In the meantime, California will target its existing supply to those who are currently eligible, especially in communities hardest hit by the virus and where vaccine distribution is lagging behind.

For Californians between 50 and 65 who hope to become eligible as soon as possible, it looks like vaccination sites could be closed to them for at least a few more weeks, while states like Texas, Indiana and the Ohio are already 50 years old.

“Here at least in Northern California, we really respected everything, the social distancing, the masks,” said Maureen O’Regan, who told us she heard from younger friends and family at the Texas who are already vaccinated. “So I just hate being late for the shots when we really did everything we should have done from the start.”

RELATED: How Do I Sign Up for a COVID-19 Vaccine in California?

If California doesn’t make the next group eligible for another month, it begs the question of whether the state can truly be prepared to make adults of all age groups eligible by the target date of May 1. announced last week by President Joe Biden.

“The real question then is, when will there be enough vaccine to open up to the general population?” said Dr Mike Wasserman, who sits on the California Vaccine Advisory Committee. “I think it’s going to be close to May someday, but I don’t know if we know the exact date.”

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VACCINE TRACKER: How’s California, when we can get the coronavirus vaccine

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