A vaccination clinic scheduled to be in Pasadena on Thursday was relocated after a registration link was shared with a large group of people who are not yet eligible for the vaccine, city officials said.
The registration link was sent to a group of entertainment, news and production carriers, according to the city. The group is not eligible for state vaccinations unless they meet other criteria.
Plan your vaccine: how and where to get vaccinated.
More than half of the 1,500 appointments for Thursday’s clinic were believed to have been made by ineligible people. Thursday’s clinic has been canceled due to the violation, city officials said.
The violation was brought to the attention of the city by a Los Angeles Times reporter who called to ask if the link was legitimate.
Initially, anyone who did not qualify and received the link was advised to cancel their appointment. City officials said later Tuesday morning that the clinic has been canceled.
Vaccinations are available for the following groups listed on the Pasadena Health Department website.
- Healthcare works with immediate care
- Residents and staff of long-term care facilities
- People aged 65 and over
- Childcare and K-12 education workers
- Food and agricultural workers.
“Individuals who have tried to sign up for vaccination before their turn will not receive a vaccine,” the city said in a statement. Please wait your turn. Such unfortunate circumstances prevent us from vaccinating residents as soon as possible. “
Pasadena reported 10,993 coronavirus cases and 320 COVID-19-related deaths on Monday.
Attempts to jump across the line and get the vaccine have been repeatedly frowned upon by state and local health officials, but the problem persists. Los Angeles County health officials have been addressing issues of people being given supposedly secure registration codes to make appointments at vaccine clinics reserved for select groups of residents.
The issue was highlighted when Governor Gavin Newsom showed up at a public housing complex in the province where a vaccination clinic had been set up for low-income residents in the area, using a special appointment registration code. Lots of people who came to the clinic with appointments
lived outside the area but had managed to get hold of the code, effectively preventing it
residents of making appointments.