California COVID-19 vaccine rollout brings mass confusion - Los Angeles Times

The hoped-for rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine for Angelenos 65 years and older was met with chaos and confusion Thursday, with the county saying it could be weeks before that group will be able to receive their shots.

Newsom, in his announcement Wednesday, said people 65 and older could get vaccinated, but local health officials followed with public statements soon after, saying the opposite.

County residents over the age of 65 who are looking for a COVID-19 vaccine — and for clarity — will have to get in line.

County Public Health Department, Los Angeles is still in Phase 1A of the vaccine rollout, which means only healthcare workers and residents of skilled nursing and long-term care facilities are eligible to receive the vaccine.

The department said the county is working to provide another 500,000 such workers with doses by the end of the month, and hopes to move beyond phase 1A at the beginning of February.

Orange County and Riverside County have opened vaccines to residents 65 and older, according to their public health departments.

Phase 1A will tentatively wrap up in early February, at which point the county can shift focus to Angelenos in Phase 1B — which includes people 65 and over, along with select essential workers in education, childcare, emergency services, food and agriculture.

Children will not be offered the vaccine in the near future, the county health department said.

The Pfizer vaccine has been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for people over age 16, and the Moderna vaccine is authorized for people 18 or older.

Los Angeles County has set up an email system for people to sign up to receive updates on vaccine distribution.

“Successfully delivering the vaccine to people 65 and older depends on getting access to adequate supplies of vaccine, which we understand is coming.”.

County Department of Public Health, the vaccine will be covered by private and public insurance companies.

People without health insurance can get the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost.