The county has received 114,000 doses of the vaccine so far, while it is estimated that more than 700,000 are currently eligible for a vaccine under the state’s plan, including about 343,000 people aged 65 or older, according to the county’s executive office.
“This is not a matter of volunteers. This is not a matter of location. This is a vaccination issue,” said supervisor Karen Spiegel. “We’ve had plans for mass distribution for a while. Plans and places aren’t the concern. We don’t have enough vaccine available to meet the demand.”
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Executive Office spokeswoman Brooke Federico said the county usually receives the doses on a weekly basis and they are distributed to suppliers within two to three days or administered at a public health vaccination clinic.
She said nearly 80% of doses received to date have gone to state-approved healthcare providers, including hospitals, doctors, clinics and pharmacies to vaccinate currently eligible workers and residents, but the offer remains. “extremely limited”.
Meanwhile, residents eager to take the photos swarm with phone lines and the county planning website. The county opened about 11,000 appointment spots at four clinics next week in Corona, Menifee, Beaumont and Indio on Friday. They were all completed within a few hours.
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According to Federico, appointments at the clinic to receive the vaccine are currently booked through Friday.
“There are more than 175 state-approved vaccine providers in Riverside County. Residents should ask their doctor, emergency room or pharmacy if they are a licensed provider and when they expect a vaccine,” she said.
A full list of providers in Riverside County can be found here.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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