Vaccines trickle in
Austin Widger,
Ojai Valley News reporter
Ventura County opened up registration for the COVID-19 vaccine to residents ages 75 and older Tuesday, and the first round of appointments were gone within hours.
As more vaccine doses become available from the state, Ventura County government officials will begin to offer more vaccine appointments to more seniors, with those age 75 and older first in line.
Ventura County Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Levin said at the county’s weekly COVID-19 press conference Thursday: “There is a trickle of vaccines into our state. As of earlier this week, the state had received 3 million doses of vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control. The population of the state of California is 39.8 million people.”
By Dr. Jim Halverson
The incredible effort to develop, manufacture, distribute and administer safe and effective vaccines to protect people from COVID-19 continues to progress. People who want to receive the vaccine, now estimated at about 60% of the adult population in the United States (approximately 160 million), are understandably hoping to get it as soon as possible. With ongoing concerns about current case numbers, continuing significant morbidity and mortality, and emerging strains that are more contagious, many are becoming frustrated with having to wait to receive the vaccine.
The process of distribution and administration is constantly changing. The new Biden administration, and his very ambitious goal of administering 100 million vaccines in 100 days, the anticipated approval of the Johnson and Johnson and Astra-Zeneca vaccines, and the ever-expanding locations that will be able to administer the vaccines in the coming months will modify the information I am giving you